Touching video shows brave baby boy's fight for survival after being born premature at 25 weeks
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This touching video documents a baby boy's incredible fight for survival after he was born premature at 25 weeks.
Miracle tot Jenson Mirfin weighed the same as a load of bread when he was born and doctors feared he wouldn't survive.
But now the 17-month-old has made an amazing recovery and is walking and talking like any other toddler.
Doctors told little Jenson’s parents there was every chance their little warrior would not survive when he was born at just 25 weeks and, even if he did, he would probably end up in a wheelchair.
(Image: hulldailymail WS)
(Image: hulldailymail WS)
But despite arriving so early and suffering a bleed on the brain, battler Jenson has started walking and talking just like any other healthy little boy, the Hull Daily Mail reports .
In this touching video his proud parents show his remarkable journey over the past year - from his first cry to his first cuddle.
Mum Millie Mirfin was very ill when she gave birth to Jenson and doctors said she was the priority.
But when the found the tiny baby breathing, staff at the Hull Women’s and Children’s NICU rallied round to save him.
“From 19 weeks I started having problems and by 25 weeks I was in labour,” Millie, 25, said. “It got worse as I became very ill and they thought it might be sepsis .
"They had to induce me into labour.
“I was too ill to have a caesarean and they told me I was the priority. They said there was probably nothing they could do and would only attend to the baby if it showed signs of breathing.
“He was due on June 14 last year but he was born on March 4. I thought I was going to miscarry but thankfully Jenson was breathing.
“I was too ill to remember much about what happened then but the Hull NICU were absolutely brilliant. We never thought in a million years Jenson would survive but you always have hope.
“Jenson only weighed one pound four ounces which is the weight of a loaf of bread. He could fit into my hand he was that small.”
But even when it became clear Jenson was going to survive, it was not known what quality of life he might have.
“Doctors told us Jenson had suffered a bleed on the brain,” Millie said. “And they weren’t sure what effect it had on him.
(Image: hulldailymail WS)
"They said it would probably affect his movement and he could end up in a wheelchair.
“But he has come on leaps and bounds and it looks like there is nothing wrong with him in the slightest. In the last couple of weeks he has just started walking and talking.
“But there are always things in the back of your mind. The only thing we are still concerned about is his eyes. But if he has to where glasses then so be it.
“We have learned not to stress too much about things now. So many times we have been told he is not going to make it. We have seen him stop breathing on a number of occasions.
Jenson has continued to surprise his parents, who recently moved to Australia from west Hull, and medical staff.
To make sure not one moment was missed, Millie has created this moving video charting her son's remarkable battle.
“We have never experienced anything like this before and we thought our lives had changed forever,” Millie said.
(Image: hulldailymail WS)
“But looking at Jenson now, it is unbelievable.
“One doctor who didn’t know what Jenson had gone through was examining him a while ago.
“When he was told Jenson had suffered a bleed on the brain he was very surprised and said we were very lucky. That really brought it all home to us.
“Seeing Jenson now makes us feel very proud, proud of what he has overcome. He really is such a fighter.
“He has become a little person now and his own personality is shining through.
“I never thought we would get to this point. It is very emotional but we are so proud of Jenson."
After a trip to Thailand a couple of years ago, Millie and Dave decided they wanted to move abroad.
That looked very unlikely when Jenson was born but now they have been able to realise their dream and moved Down Under earlier this year.
(Image: hulldailymail WS)
“Dave has relatives over here and after travelling we felt it is something we really wanted to do,” Millie said.
“When Jenson was born we didn’t think it was going to be possible but he has come on so well.
“Dave is an electrician so we were able to get residency OK. Jenson isn’t under any medical supervision now but the health care system here is brilliant.
“Dave also has another daughter Mollie, who is 13-years-old. She is still in Hull living with her mum but she has been a fantastic sister to Jenson.”
Millie feels a huge sense of gratitude towards the Hull NICU and set up a Just Giving page last year, managing to raise £300.
She said: “I didn’t organise any fundraising events but I asked for donations on my Facebook page.
“The NICU is always in need of funds and they have been so unbelievable. Both the nurses and doctors went that extra mile for us and many of them became friends.
“I just wanted to do my little bit to show my appreciation. That is one of the reasons I made the video as well as a celebration of Jenson’s progress.
“I showed my husband the video. He is not much of a crier but it brought him to tears.
“I also wanted to do it to give other parents in a similar situation some hope.”