Born 15 weeks premature - now brave Stuart is ready for school

However four years later, brave Stuart has overcome numerous health complications and is now looking forward to starting Primary School in September.

Last week Stuart received a letter to say that he has been accepted into Dunclug Primary and this news has delighted his mother Hazel.

She said: “To get the letter confirming that he is going to be going to primary school just makes me so proud. Although when the day comes and I have to drop him off, there’ll be plenty of tears.”

The four year old spent the first few months of his life on a ventilator in intensive care and he had barely been home a fortnight when he was struck down with septicemia and had to return to hospital for another two weeks.

Those first few months were a difficult time for Hazel and the family, as they held bedside vigils and panicked every time the phone rang.

Hazel added: “It was a tough time, if I wasn’t at the hospital, I was on the phone to them asking how he has. Nurses sent me home to get some sleep and they kept telling me to stop calling and rest. On my birthday that year I was called up because there had been complications, it was very scary.

During his short life, Stuart has had health problems including TWO brain haemorrhages, chronic lung and had part of his bowel removed.

The health complications still have a lasting effect on Stuart, he has cerebral palsy and every six months has to undergo botox treatment on his legs to help his muscle development.

“He is still very small, we had to get his nursery outfit made for him. We will have to arrange his uniform but it’s going to be a proud day when he puts it on the first time,” she said.

“Despite all his health problems Stuart is a very happy child and since being accepted into school, he’s been going round telling everyone that he is going to Dunclug College!

“Every day he makes us proud and he his older brother and sister look out for him and think the world of him. He is a little character but there is no doubt that he is a mummy’s boy.”