A BABY given just 24 hours to live when he was born has won his battle for life.

Tiny Michael O’Brien was born nine weeks premature by emergency Caesarean on August 15. He weighed just 2lb 11oz.

His lungs and stomach were under-developed and so he was taken to the intensive care unit of the Oliver Fisher Baby Care Unit at Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, where he was given round-the-clock care. But now the tot has been allowed to go home after putting on a pound in four weeks.

His mother, Helen, 37, and father Michael, 45, a landscape gardener, from Gillingham, praised all the staff at the unit.

Mr O’ Brien said: “They have been absolutely fantastic. They have let us know what has been happening every step of the way.”

Michael spent the first few weeks of his life attached to wires. Mrs O’Brien, a science teacher at Walderslade Girls School, Chatham, said: “We will definitely be doing some fund-raising for the Oliver Fisher Unit because without them Michael would not be here.”

Mr O’ Brien said: “The baby unit is one of the best in the country and we were very lucky to get a place. I am now looking forward to putting Michael & Son on my gardening van.”

The Oliver Fisher Baby Care Unit was set up in 1983 and cares for 450 babies a year.