article: On her son's first birthday, Taniya Astbury expects to shed a tear of joy - as it's a day she thought she'd never see. Her little boy defied the odds - as well as doctors' warnings - that he had no chance of survival. Benjamin was born 12 weeks early, weighing 1lb 3oz, little more than a bag of sugar. He suffered five cardiac arrests and was born with a bowel problem requiring two emergency operations. Benjamin Astbury, who doctors said would not survive after he was born, has defied the odds and is about to celebrate his first birthday. He is pictured here with mother Tanyia, 36 . When he was born 12 weeks early, Benjamin weighed just 1lb 30z, little more than a bag of sugar . At one point he had such severe breathing problems he was put into a paralysed state for six days while doctors tried to save his life. He was given just a 10 per cent chance of surviving, and his parents were told on many occasions he was too weak to live. But Benjamin battled on and has defied medics to approach his first birthday, and although he is still underweight at 13lbs, is thriving at home with his family. His mother Mrs Astbury, 36, from Buckley,  North Wales, said his survival shows 'miracles do happen'. 'There are times when my husband Steven and I have been absolutely distraught,' she said. 'But miracles do happen and we are absolutely over the moon. 'Benjamin is doing really well at the moment and we are coming up to his first birthday despite having been told a number of times he wouldn't make it. Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious illness in which tissues in the intestine (gut) become inflamed and start to die. This can lead to a hole developing which allows the contents of the intestine to leak into the abdomen (tummy). This can cause a very dangerous infection. NEC is the most common surgical emergency in newborn babies and tends to affect more babies born prematurely than those born full-term. In many cases, NEC can be treated without surgery, by resting the bowel by using intravenous feeding and treating any infection with antibiotics. During this period, the child will have a nasogastric (NG) tube passed through their nose to drain off the contents of their stomach. They will also have a drip of fluids and medicines. However, the child will need an operation if they develop a hole in their bowel or do not respond to the treatment above. The operation is carried out under a general anaesthetic and can last between 30 minutes and four hours, depending on the severity of the NEC. Source: Great Ormond Street Hospital . 'He was so tiny when he was born and one of the nurses said he was the smallest she had ever seen in her 16 years at the hospital. 'But he is definitely a fighter - he has already been through so much.' Benjamin spent his first days in the Wrexham Maelor's Special Care Baby Unit before being transferred to Liverpool Women's Hospital. He was diagnosed with necrotising enterocolitis, a condition where tissue in some portions of the bowel die. It means a hole can develop in the bowel, allowing the contents of the intestine to leak into the stomach, causing a very dangerous infection. The illness is one of the most common causes of death in premature infants. Benjamin was put on a ventilator to help him breathe and doctors warned he was extremely ill. A C-reactive protein infection marker test - which checks for levels of inflammation and infection in the body - showed a score of 324. Less than four is considered a good score on the test. Benjamin underwent emergency surgery at Liverpool's Alder Hey Hospital, which left him with two stomas - openings on the abdomen which allow waste to leave the body. In a matter of days his condition deteriorated and he was put into a paralysed state. He was hooked up to an oscillator, a machine used to help someone breathe when a ventilator is no longer working. The machine shook his body for six days, in order to relieve pressure from his lungs. Mrs Astbury said it was heartbreaking to see her son suffer. Benjamin had five cardiac arrests, two emergency bowel operations and was even put into a paralysed state on a ventilator for six days . He is now thriving at home with his family. His mother said: 'We are so proud of him and in awe of him we hope he can be an inspiration to others' She said: 'It was really horrible to see. 'He was given steroids and he pulled through again but in September, after a reversal of the stomas, he began having breathing problems.' Benjamin began to have laryngospasms, a brief spasm of the vocal cords that temporarily makes it difficult to speak or breathe. They are caused a partial blocking of the airwaves when breathing in. 'Just touching him or changing his nappy could turn him blue,' Mrs Astbury said. 'Benjamin underwent another emergency operation on his bowel but he also had five cardiac arrests in this period up until Christmas which was very frightening but again, he has come through them.' Now at home since the turn of the year, Benjamin will still have to endure further operations. But his mother is still delighted he is at home with his family. She said: 'To see him get close to his first birthday after everything that has happened is amazing. 'We are so proud of him and in awe of him we hope he can be an inspiration to others.'
highlights: Benjamin Astbury was born 12 weeks early, weighing just 1lb 3oz .
  Was put into a paralysed state on a ventilator  to help him breathe .
  Doctors told his parents he had just a 10% chance of surviving .
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