A MIRACLE Barrow baby who survived against the odds will be celebrating his first Christmas at home.

Little fighter Damon Barnard, who turned one at the weekend, has been nominated for The Mail's Christmas Stars.

Damon was born almost three months early by emergency caesarean section and he only weighed 2lb 4oz.

The tough baby was very poorly but he fought off infection and complications, and also recovered from a brain haemorrhage. At 11 weeks he had surgery for a serious hernia.

Damon has only been bottle feed for the last two months, as before this he was fed with a nasal tube.

Proud mum Zoe Barnard said: "Damon is the strongest and most incredible little boy. He is my little fighter, he is the surviving twin from my pregnancy in 2016 and he is very lucky to be here to celebrate Christmas with us this year.

"He was born almost three months early by emergency ceasarean and he was very poorly when he was born on December 9, 2016. He had a grade two intraventricular haemorrhage, he only weighed 2lb 4oz and he had infections and serious complications.

"He had emergency surgery at 11 weeks old to due him having a hernia which could have been fatal if they hadn't found out in time.

"There are many reasons why Damon is my star, but this year he is celebrating what I class as his first Christmas living at home with his family.

"After a long six months in various hospitals, we get to celebrate a Christmas that I never thought we would ever get to see and we can do it knowing that he is brave enough to overcome anything in life if he can accomplish this at the age of one year old."

The Mail's Christmas Stars honours the bravest and kindest youngsters from across Furness, Millom and south Cumbria.

The Mail works with Heath's Toymaster, The Forum, the cast of Barrow panto Cinderella and Barrow and District Disability Association to celebrate courageous and selfless children in our communities and give them some magical Christmas surprises.

Our bravery and selflessness winners receive an early Christmas visit at home from Father Christmas, who delivers beautiful toys courtesy of Heath's Toymaster in Dalton Road, Barrow.

The Mail also hosts a special Christmas Stars party at The Forum, in Barrow, in the days before Christmas where deserving children meet the stars of this year's panto, Cinderella, and Father Christmas presents them with a gift.

Christmas Stars is open to children from Furness, Millom and south Cumbria who are aged up to 14 years. The closing date for nominations is Thursday December 14.

Nominations can be made using our online nomination form at nwemail.co.uk or by filling out the coupons published in The Mail newspaper. The printed coupons can be returned to Christmas Stars 2017, The Mail, Abbey Road, Barrow, Cumbria, LA14 5QS.

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