A premature baby who was only the size of a coke bottle when he was born has grown into a "cheeky little two year old."
Matthew Brimage's son, Casper, was born after only 28 weeks but now "doesn't stop" and is "full of energy."
Casper was born on Christmas Day 2019 weighing just 3lb 12oz and was immediately taken to a neonatal unit after suffering from breathing difficulties after birth.
READ MORE: Woman, 23, injured in hit and run crash denied ground floor flat
Mathew, from Litherland, told the ECHO how "scary" it was when Casper was born early — even though he and his wife Laura were prepared for an early birth after her water broke at just 19 weeks.
Mathew said: "It was an odd one for us because we were expecting it. It wasn't a shock that he was going to be early.
"We'd known for months prior that there was a chance he could be early because Laura's waters broke when it was 19 weeks.
"We were told there was a chance we'd be early and the consequences of that could be he wouldn't be fully developed, which didn't turn out to be the case.
"It was a still a shock he came on Christmas Day. The final weeks of the pregnancy was about getting as close as possible to the due date."
As soon as Casper was born he was struggling for breath and had to be taken to a neonatal unit where he was put on a ventilator.
Mathew told the ECHO in 2020 : "When he was born he was crying a little bit but he was struggling to breath. They gave him a moment and Laura had a quick cuddle and then straight away they took him to the neonatal unit and he was put on a ventilator.
"It was nearly all of his breathing for him for 24 hours and then they turned it down a bit and he started doing more of the breathing himself.
He added Casper was a "little fighter" throughout all his early struggles.
After the first day, that Mathew describes as a "very scary evening," the couple endured a three month journey where Casper remained in hospital.
Mathew said: "We came out of hospital in March, so our life revolved around going to to the hospital.
"Laura was there all day, I had to go to work and then go over.
"For three months, that was our life — we'd go home to sort of sleep and then come back."
Casper's early months back home were dominated by the Covid pandemic, meaning he had very little interaction with the outside world until he was past his first birthday.
Mathew added: "Taking Casper home with oxygen tanks is bad enough in itself, but then obviously Covid hits and we didn't really want to take him anywhere just because of the world we lived in back then.
"Coming out of lockdowns has really helped him because he was very wary of other people.
"When he started going to nursery, we noticed a big change in how he socialises with other people."
Mathew proudly said Casper has grown into a "cheeky little man."
He added: "The kid just doesn't stop — the energy he's got just makes me tired.
"He doesn't stop talking, he's always running around — he's not really cared about sitting there and watching TV.
"He'd rather be playing with his toys and stuff like that. He loves being outside and going on the swings.
"He's just a little ball of energy."
When Mathew spoke to the ECHO in 2020, he praised the work of everyone associated with Liverpool Women's Hospital, saying they did an "amazing" job.
Nearly two years later, Mathew said the staff at the hospital have given Casper "life."
He said: "I don't think I could ever thank them enough.
"I don't think I could ever put it into words my thanks for them — you say thank you so much, but it never feels enough.
"They've effectively given him life."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
