A SUPER sixteen-year-old has celebrated the special birthday his family thought they would never see.

Wrestling fan Jordan Gourlay has defied all the odds throughout his short life, after medics feared he would die on the same day he was born.

The Greenock youngster’s lungs collapsed after filling with blood just seconds after his mum Arlene McIlwee gave birth.

He later suffered a brain haemorrhage while in a coma and hooked up to a specialist machine designed to save the lives of stricken babies.

But the plucky teenager defied all the odds and has made it through all his milestones.

He marked the occasion by celebrating with a hot tub party at his uncle Joseph’s house and blew out candles on a wrestler cake.

Arlene, 34, of Wheater Close, said: “He had a great time with his brothers, friends, nanna and grandad.

“It was very emotional too for the whole family.

“It was sad but happy because we remember every minute of when he was born.”

Arlene had suffered from pre-eclampsia which meant that her baby wasn’t getting enough oxygen or nutrients through the placenta.

She said: “I had to have an emergency section at 35 weeks at the Rankin.

“The staff there saved his life.

“The midwives knew straight away there was something wrong and if they hadn’t acted so quickly Jordan wouldn’t be here.”

A crash team was brought down from Yorkhill to stabilise Jordan before he was transferred to the Queen Mother’s Hospital in Glasgow.

Arlene said: “They didn’t know what was wrong with him.

“A valve in his heart that was supposed to shut when he was born stayed open.

“The doctors were giving him oxygen but it wasn’t going anywhere then blood was getting into his lungs and choking him.

“He died twice in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and was brought back again.

“He had to go on a machine which put him into a kind of coma to give his heart and lungs a chance to recover.

“Doctors said the odds were stacked against him, he wouldn’t make it through the night.

“He was very unwell, it was touch and go.”

Arlene’s dad, former councillor Joe McIlwee, was so worried he gave his grandson the last rites.

Arlene said: “My dad baptised him himself with holy water but he always said that he would make it.”

Arlene, who also has three other sons, Kyle, 12, Declan, seven and one-year-old Kaleb, say his survival stresses the importance of having a local maternity unit.

She said: “I don’t think Jordan would have survived if I had to travel to Paisley, but I think the most important thing is to have doctors at the unit.

“If there hadn’t been doctors at the Rankin, Jordan would not be here today.”

It’s hard to believe that 16 years ago Jordan, who wants to be the next superstar wrestler like his hero John Cena, was fighting for his life.

Jordan lives with his mum and step-dad Robert McGhee but he also spends lots of time with his dad Andrew Gourlay.

His traumatic first few days has left him with a series of challenges.

Arlene said: “The doctors said if he did survive not to expect too much because he had been starved of oxygen but I didn’t care as long as he survived.

“He is autistic and has ADHD but he still sails through.

“His health is not great at times but considering what he’s been through I’m just happy is here.”