MIRACLE baby Kavan Ingham celebrates his first birthday today -- a milestone his parents feared he would not see.

After being born nearly four months premature, little Kavan has spent his first year of life in and out of hospital.

He still suffers from chronic lung disease and his mother, Sheryl Timperley, aged 21, has to carry an oxygen cannister everywhere she goes to help him to breathe. Kavan was born with his left lung collapsed and with his right lung leaking air.

Babies rarely survive if born before 24 weeks of pregnancy because their lungs are not fully formed.

Kavan was rushed to the specialist hospital, St Mary's in Manchester were he bravely fought for his life.

After nine weeks, he returned to the Royal Bolton Hospital's neo natal unit -- his home for the next seven months.

Sheryl, of Parkfield Road, Great Lever, said: "He was only home a few days when he was seven months old. But he developed bronchitis and pneumonia and had to go back in.

"He has been left with chronic lung disease and has his own portable oxygen cylinder which goes everywhere with him.

"But he's now doing really well, apart from the odd cold. Today is a real celebration. He has been through so much and is still here against all odds."

Sheryl, who also has a two-year-old daughter Kayla Sky, found out early that there were complications with Kavan after she became pregnant.

Sheryl said: "At 18 weeks, my waters broke and the midwives asked me if I wanted an abortion because they didn't think that he would survive.

"But I said 'No'. They managed to stop the contractions, but by 25 weeks Kavan decided he was coming into the world no matter what."

And the brave youngster defied all odds to celebrate his first birthday and enjoyed a special party at The Beehive, Horwich, yesterday.

Neo natal babies who were also nursed in the Princess Anne Maternity Unit at the same time as Kavan were invited to the party alongside family and friends.

Sheryl and Kavan's dad, Scott Ingham, are now hoping their son's hospital ordeal is over.

Sheryl said: "It's nice to have him at home with us."