A MIRACLE baby born extremely premature and weighing less than two pounds has celebrated his first birthday after beating the odds to survive.

First-time parents Carlo and Sarah Cucchi, from Heswall, were terrified when their son - also named Carlo - was born at just 24 weeks last November, weighing a tiny 1lb 6oz.

He celebrated his first birthday on Monday much to the delight of his proud parents but there were times when they didn't think he would make it.

Carlo, 33, said: “My wife went in to very unexpected labour on my birthday of all days. We were on our way out for my birthday meal when Sarah was having stomach pains so I said we should go to the hospital on the way out to be on the safe side."

Once there, Sarah was examined and told she was fully dilated and the baby was coming.

“From a meal out to being told our baby was being born all within an hour - Sarah was heartbroken as was I because we knew it was too early – he wasn’t due until February 26.”

Carlo and Sarah, 27, were rushed into the delivery room.

Steroid injections to help the baby’s lungs and brain development could not be provided due to the urgency and they were told he would not survive birth.

To make matters worse, baby Carlo was born breach with umbilical cord wrapped around his neck.

“After he was born, he wasn’t breathing so was whipped away to be resuscitated. To say I was shocked at the size and appearance of him is an understatement,” said Carlo.

From then on, Carlo and Sarah spent every day and night at their son’s side.

“Things didn’t go his way. We were even told to have him baptised a few weeks after his birth because he needed an operation which we were told would probably kill him," said Carlo.

“We were told if the transportation to Alder Hey wouldn't be too much for him, the anaesthetic and stress on a 625g baby probably would be. But, again he came out fighting.”

Wirral Globe:
Carlo was born weighing a tiny 1lb 6oz.

The family had many scares while at Alder Hey – infections, sepsis, e-coli, all of which could have proved fatal.

Carlo said: "He had a very tough four months in intensive care, with everything thrown at him which he overcame. He's now a lovely healthy little boy, celebrating his first birthday against all odds.

“The one thing which has had a lasted effect on him was a thrombosis he got in his left leg, due to his tiny arteries not being able to hold the cannulas. This caused a clot which caused his leg to die. But the risk of another op was too high to have it amputated, so we were told we would have to watch it blacken, shrivel up and drop off.

“We had to endure seeing that for a month, and it fell off on Christmas Eve. We were and still are devastated. 

“But, apart from his missing leg and a few scars here and there you would never know. He is a gorgeous and very happy baby showing no signs of prematurity. He's doing everything he should be at his corrected age, and the doctors are over the moon with him.”

Wish Carlo a happy birthday below.