WHEN Spencer Gaffney-Williams was born four months premature, his parents feared the worst.

Weighing only 1lb 11oz, he was given a 15 per cent chance of survival - and even if he managed to overcome these odds, there was an 80 per cent possibility of him being disabled.

What made it even worse was that his parents, Graeme Williams and partner Sarah Gaffney, had already been through the trauma of losing a baby.

In January, their son Joe, who was also born four months premature, died despite putting up a brave battle.

The couple, who live in Warwick Crescent, Cowpen Bewley, near Billingham, thought they would be faced with the horrible experience of having to lose a second child.

But little Spencer had other ideas, and like his father, who has boxed as an amateur and a professional, he began fighting back.

He was born in North Tees General Hospital, at Stockton, in August, and now, three months later, he has finally been allowed to return home.

Doctors have told Graeme, 27, and Sarah, 28, that Spencer, who now weighs a much healthier 6lb 3oz, will have to continue having regular health checks.

But medical tests have shown he has a very good chance of growing up without any disability.

Proud father Graeme told The Northern Echo that the couple and their families are delighted to have Spencer home.

"Losing Joe was a very hard time, and when Spencer was born exactly the same time as him, we were really worried," he said.

"The first few weeks were really hard, and we didn't think he would make it, especially because of what happened to little Joe.

"But he showed he is much harder than his dad, and although he still needs a little bit of oxygen, things are looking good.

"He won't become a boxer when he is older though, because we don't want him spending any more time in hospital."

Sarah, Graeme and Spencer's older brother, Charlie, would like to thank staff at the neo-natal intensive care unit at North Tees Hospital, as well as the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle