A BABY, who weighed only 29oz at birth and survived four life-threatening illnesses, is gaining strength to prepare for surgery.
Nine-month-old Aaron Cook overcame a blood infection, MRSA, meningitis and fluid on the brain.
He was born three months early by emergency Caesarean at the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, on November 29 and had to have a valve fitted in his brain to help drain excess fluid.
He now weighs 13 pounds and is preparing to have an operation to implant a larger valve in November.
His mother, Dee, 34, from Kingsley Close, Grangetown, Teesside, who had high blood pressure and spent most of the pregnancy in hospital, said she could hardly believe Aaron had pulled through.
"He is such a smiling happy baby and isn't any trouble," she said. "If I had a glimpse of the future and saw what he is like today, I never would have imagined he would do so well."
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