Born at 23 weeks and just seven inches long, premature baby Oliver-Cash Lowther-Ryan was dubbed Rocky by medics when he bounced back after two operations last year.

Sadly, he lost his fight for life in August, five months after his birth at Medway Maritime Hospital's Special Care Baby Unit, but his family are now hoping his legacy will live on and help others born there.

This month, in honour of their son's birthday on March 26, parents Ethan Ryan and Frances Lowther are collecting donations for "Oliver's Hampers", which will include items such as premature baby socks, hats, babygrows, photo frames and much more, to be sent to Medway hospital.

Dad Ethan, 30, said the hampers will also contain gifts for the nurses to recognise their incredible work, and could be arranged again in the future if the idea takes off.

"We've been thinking for ages of what to do to commemorate my son's death," he said. "People were saying 'why don't you let off some balloons' or something - that's nice but it's more for us as parents and family but not for my son. I wanted to do something on his behalf and Medway is the place that gave him his chance of life.

"He ended up in three hospitals - Medway, Brighton and St Thomas' in London - but Medway was where he was born and that's where they first got the tubing in. Without Medway he wouldn't have made it to the other hospitals.

"My daughter believes he's up in heaven looking after other babies, so this is really to do that in reality. He kind of is looking after the other babies.

"Just living through it first hand and knowing the things they ask parents to bring, you see that sometimes they're running short of things so I just wanted to do something.

"It's things like there was no reading material - they [the babies] might not understand you but it's good to read so they can hear your voice and to start making that connection. And as much as you want to be there, you're sitting there on your own watching a baby sleeping.

"I don't know how well this is going to take off but we've got lots of parents involved, along with friends and family. Maybe it will be a yearly thing."

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