A MIRACLE baby who was born 12 weeks early and faced a battle to survive is starting school today.

Isaac Ingram, aged five, was full of excitement as he joined his new classmates for his first day at St Mary’s Primary in Greenock.

When he walked through the school gates it was an emotional moment for his proud parents Siobhan McAlister and Scott Ingram.

Isaac weighted only one pound and 14 ounces when he was born prematurely and rushed to a special baby care unit.

He faced an immediate fight for survival and left medics fearing the worst when he stopped breathing twice.

The little fighter spent the first nine weeks of his life in hospital, but since then he has never looked back and has hit every milestone.

Siobhan, of Jamaica Street, said: “Luckily he has had no problems since.

“This is a big moment but Isaac is so excited and has been counting down the days.

“When he goes into school I’ll hold it together until I am on my own, then I can have a cry!

“I will miss him so much when he is at school all day.

“I won’t know what to do with myself.”

Isaac was waved into St Mary’s by his mum, dad and his grandparents.

He was born in May 2012 when Siobhan was only 28 weeks pregnant.

She went for a routine scan only to be told that her baby had stopped growing and that his only hope was to be delivered early.

Doctors told her that if her appointment had been a few weeks later the situation would have been even more critical.

Siobhan said: “At the time your adrenaline kicks in and you just have to get on with it. But when I look back now, it was terrifying.

“I actually had a wee look through the diary I kept when he was in hospital. A mum whose own baby was born premature makes them up and hands them out. It really helped at the time and to now look back at how far he has come.

“It was emotional to remind myself of it all again.

“Sometimes Isaac and I look at the diary together.”

The youngster needed a series of blood transfusions after being born and suffered string of problems, culminating when he stopped breathing on two seperate occasions.

Siobhan said: “The doctors and nurses were amazing. They saved his life. I was at the hospital day and night and they couldn’t do enough for us.”

After his traumatic arrival Isaac bounced back, and he has grown into a typical young boy who is always on the move.

Siobhan said: “He is a bundle of energy. He never stops for a minute!”

Isaac said: “I’m excited about my first day at school and seeing my friends.”