Meet the miracle baby born weighing 2lbs 4oz who defied doctors' expectations to reach his first birthday

 Liverpool Echo Little fighter: Baby Noah was born at just 28 weeks as his mum got into the bath A miracle baby has defied to odds to reach his first birthday, despite being born weighing a tiny 2lbs

4oz.

Noah Hardie was born prematurely after mum-of-three Kirstie gave birth at 28 weeks pregnant as she got into the bath.

The tot suffered brain damage when he was born, and had to have his heart restarted when he was just a couple of months old.

But the Liverpool family, who were told to prepare for the worst after his birth, were able to gather to celebrate him turning one.

Noah’s gran Kim said Kirstie was taken into hospital when her waters broke at just 21 weeks, but after a couple of weeks of treatment was sent home.

 Liverpool Echo Now: Noah, with mum Kirstie, has defied doctors' expectations to reach his first birthday Kim told the Liverpool Echo : “On December 17 she went back into hospital but they thought she had a water infection so she came home at about midnight.

“She was shaking and cold - I think she might have been in shock - so she ran herself a bath.

“As she got into the bath the baby came flying out, feet first.”

Kim, who lives opposite Kirstie on Sidney Road, said she was at home when someone started banging on her door.

She said: “I ran over and just started screaming.”

Both Noah and Kirstie, who had lost a lot of blood, were rushed to hospital in ambulances.

Noah spent the first seven weeks of his life at Liverpool Women's Hospital where he was on life support.

But when the youngster returned home problems continued.

Kim said: “We got him home and he didn’t look right.

“We phoned an ambulance and when paramedics came they said they thought he looked OK but would take him to hospital because of his history.

“When they got him into Alder Hey the ambulanceman just said ‘he’s gone’ and he had died.

“The staff grabbed the baby and just ran with him and worked on him to bring him back to life.”

Kim said: “He has brain damage and a number of other conditions.

“He’s had five or six blood transfusions, but he is a real fighter.”

She added: “He’s always smiling, even when he’s sick, he’s smiling.”

Noah’s dad Hussain Ali, nine-year-old sister Ayse, three-year-old brother Logan and other family members celebrated Noah’s first birthday on Friday.

Great-gran Mary Hardie said: “When he was a newborn we were told to prepare for the worst so the fact that he’s still with us is brilliant.

“He has fought so hard.”