Express & Star

Less than 2lb and the size of a hand: Little fighter Cain defies all odds

He was born at just 27 weeks and was so small he could fit in the palm of your hand – but Cain Highfield has defied the odds, proving to be one tough baby.

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He was so poorly at one point that doctors weren't sure he would make it through the night.

He spent several months in hospital, and although he still has a long road to recovery, he is home, much to the delight of his mother, who says he is doing 'amazingly well'.

Cain, now aged six months, was born weighing just 1lb 9oz, and it was feared that he was just hours from death after suffering several medical complications.

He suffered a punctured wound in his throat, a bleed on the brain and breathing difficulties.

But after 12 weeks in hospitals in Wolverhampton and Birmingham, he is now home with his relieved mother Zoe Highfield, and is getting bigger and stronger. He now weighs 8lb.

Cain has chronic lung disease and requires oxygen 24 hours a day

Miss Highfield, from Bushbury, told of her fears during the first few months of Cain's life.

The 23-year-old said: "I was obviously getting really stressed during the birth so he was delivered by emergency c-section. He was so small, he would have fitted in the palm of your hand. He was probably the size of a small Lucozade bottle. He was only 1lb 9oz, he was tiny, and then there was just problems after problems.

"They had to drain his lung because his feeding tube punctured his gullet.

"Then he was transferred from New Cross Hospital to Birmingham Children's Hospital because he had a small bleed on the brain. He had been in hospital for five weeks but then his breathing got really bad.

"The doctor said that he wasn't sure if he would make it through the night. Luckily he perked up a few hours later and he's been fighting and fighting ever since. I stayed at the hospital with him, I didn't want to leave him, I really couldn't bear to."

Once Cain was strong enough, he was able to go home with his mother just in time for Christmas. Miss Highfield said: "It was an amazing moment, I didn't think he was going to make it. It was five weeks before I even got to hold him.

She added: "At the moment he has chronic lung disease, and he's needing oxygen 24 hours a day. But we're building him up and getting him bigger.

"We're not sure how it'll affect him when he gets older, but he is doing amazingly well, I can't wait now to see him grow up."

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