After fighting for survival for nearly five months, the little Petersfield boy finally left hospital last week weighing in at a healthy five and a half pounds.

His mum and dad, Alexis and Jan, and two-year-old brother Dominic, welcomed him to their home in Bramble Road on Monday last week (June 16).

Nathan was born more than four months prematurely on January 29, and has been cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit at St Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth and for several months was hooked up to a ventilator to keep him alive.

He is still on supplementary oxygen at home – but is now thriving.

Mum Alexis said: "He is doing very well and our first night was exciting and nerve wracking."

She added: "We hope to see everyone very soon, although at the moment we can see only a few people at a time as Nathan's immune system is still weak."

It was the "love and support" of everyone that had helped her and her family. "It has helped us to get through this most difficult time and we could not have done it without you.

"Here's to a happy and healthy future for Nathan," she said.

l Damien Crawford from Headley Down was sponsored to run the London Marathon in April in aid of the neonatal intensive care unit at St Mary's Hospital.

He said: "I am a good friend of Alexis and Jan and after Nathan's early birth, I thought it would be a great idea to run the marathon for the unit, which has cared for him so well."