Premature baby doing well 18 months on

Jan 30 2011 Sunday Sun

BORN prematurely at just 23 weeks, little battler Billy Doran has fought back from the brink of death.

Weighing just 1lb 6oz at birth, the tiny miracle weighed less than a bag of sugar.

Billy was born under the 24-week abortion limit and days after he came into the world his family were told to fear the worst.

But determined Billy, who was small enough to fit in someone’s hand, has defied the odds.

The youngster has faced a host of medical problems in his short life but now at 18 months old his dad has told how he is hopeful for the future.

Doting dad Billy Archbold, 32, said: “He was tiny when he was born - it was unbelievable how small he was. His head wasn’t much bigger than a golf ball.

“At first they said he was doing OK but within days his little body was failing and he was on the brink of death.

“We were told to fear the worst and didn’t expect him to pull through.

“But he amazed everyone and survived.”

Little Billy doesn’t have contact with his mam, his dad has sole custody of him.

He wasn’t able to leave Sunderland Royal Hospital, where he was born on July 22, 2009, for four months and has been in and out of hospital ever since.

Billy, of Hylton Castle, Sunderland, said: “It was an agonising wait until he was allowed to leave hospital.

“I just wanted to pick him up and give him a cuddle but he was so fragile you weren’t allowed.

“He went into foster care at first, but in September I got sole custody and look after him now.

“I had no idea Billy was going to be born prematurely, it came as a huge shock.

“When I was told his mam had gone into labour I couldn’t believe it.

“I didn’t think it was possible he could be born so soon.

“The birth had been quick and Billy had been born by the time I had rushed to the hospital.

He added: “It’s tough sometimes being a single dad, but seeing Billy doing so well makes it all worthwhile.”

While in foster care Billy stopped breathing and the foster parents had to resuscitate him and rush him to hospital.

He has also suffered a bleed on the brain, bronchitis and has been diagnosed with diabetes insipidus, a condition that can be fatal.

Last month he also underwent a stomach operation at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary after months of struggling to keep his food down.

Billy is now home with his dad, who hopes the worst is behind them.

The dad, who has two other children aged 12 and 13 from a previous relationship, said: “Because Billy was so small it’s important he gains weight. But he wasn’t keeping his food down so he’s had an operation on his stomach so he now gets fed through a tube.

“His development is set back and he is like a six to nine month old.

“He’s started crawling and says ‘dada’ which is amazing to hear.

“He is such an affectionate little boy and even when he was in hospital he always smiled through the pain.

“He’s so brave after going through more in his life so far than most will in a lifetime. He is a little miracle.

“I am so grateful to all the medical staff and the foster parents.”

Billy snr wanted to say a special thanks to all the staff at the neo-natal ward and ward F65 at Sunderland Royal Hospital and to Billy’s foster parents.