A baby boy born at just 24 weeks has been called a 'miracle' after fighting to survive despite his mum being told to switch off his life support.
Proud mum Kirsty Byass, 28, recently faced the worst decision a parent could ever have to make as son Jordie-Jay, fought for life at just 10 weeks old.
The tiny tot was born 1lb 7oz and consultants had "admitted defeat", recommending that his ventilator be switched off.
In preparation for the worst, Kirsty had her son christened.
Heartbroken mum of brain-damaged tot, 2, plans to make her Disney dreams come true
But when it came to saying her last goodbye, she just could not go through with it, reports Mirror Online .
"I had seen other parents decide to switch off machines for their babies," she said.
"I did not believe he would survive but then I thought 'you never know'."
Doctors and nurses at James Cook Hospital, in Middlesbrough, began to see a 'remarkable' change in the little fighter.
"Miracles do happen," said cleaner Kirsty, of Norton, near Stockton-on-Tees, as she contemplates taking her son home.
"I didn't think they would happen to me but they do. Even one of the consultants said 'I can't believe it.'
Gordon Ramsay's kids show off new baby brother Oscar in adorable snaps
One nurse told me 'I have worked here 10 years and never seen anything like this'.
"Despite the damage to his lungs, all his other major organs were fine on the scans."
There were warning signs in the early stages of pregnancy.
At 15 weeks, Kirsty spent five days of a seven day holiday in Majorca in hospital amid fears she might lose him.
When she returned, she was in and out of hospital with life-threatening complications including heavy bleeding.
Jordie-Jay was delivered at 24 weeks after doctors elected to perform a C-section.
Kirsty had been in hospital for around four weeks and was put to sleep - knowing her baby might not survive.
He was born on November 20 - his mother's 28th birthday - and did well at first, before taking a turn for the worse. She said: "Doctors said his chronic lung disease was so severe that there was nothing more they could do."
She decided to turn off his life support and told his brothers, Justin, 11, and seven-year-old Junior to choose an outfit for him.
Kirsty recalled: "The nurses had to take time out the room because it was heart-wrenching watching my boys so heartbroken. Then I couldn't do it."
Kirsty and dad Ryan Pearce, 25, an asbestos stripper, watched as he fought back from the brink.
Now almost five months old, he weighs 8lbs 9oz and is thriving, despite fears that he might lose his sight before laser eye surgery in March.
He was recently transferred to the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, and it is hoped he can go home next week, though he will use an oxygen tank to aid his breathing at first.
"I want to say thank you to the hospital staff. It's because of them that he's here today," said Kirsty, a cleaner. "I am super excited to get him home, and so are the kids. We can't wait.
"He still has a long way to go, but I am so glad that we never gave up."
