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Pictures of the 'miracle' five-day-old premature baby fitted with a pacemaker
Last updated at 00:52am on 10.04.08Liam King's parents were told their little boy would probably not survive more than 15 minutes after his birth.
But the tiny tot, who was born with a heart defect, not only defied medical odds by surviving but went on to have a pacemaker fitted at just five days old.
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Liam King was born with a heart defect
Liam had the operation after his parents were told he would not survive without the device to regulate the beating of his heart.
At the time of the operation, Liam had already defied medical odds as doctors thought he would not survive 15 minutes past his birth because of a congenital heart block.
Liam will have a pacemaker all his life
Liam's father, Andy King, 26, said: "Doctors told us Liam would have around 15 minutes to live when he was born because of a congenital heart defect which meant the electrical system between the heart chambers wasn't working properly.
"It was every parent's worst scenario."
The couple, who also have a one-year-old son called Macaulay, feared the worst when Liam was born prematurely at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children at the beginning of March.
"He didn't cry when he was born and we thought he was dead," said Mr King.
"He was actually sleeping and they gave him a bit of oxygen to give him a boost and he started crying.
"He was then taken into neo-natal care and five days later the pacemaker was fitted.
"We were told if he didn't have it fitted he would die."
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Liam's parents were told he was not expected to live longer than 15 minutes
After the operation, Liam was revived three times when he stopped breathing but he has since recovered well enough to be allowed to go home.
He is set to have further operations at the ages of five, 12 and 21 to replace the pacemaker as he outgrows it.
He will also have to avoid certain electrical equipment such as mobile phones and MP3 players because they could interfere with the workings of the device.
Mr King said: "He is doing really well and is feeding fine.
"We never thought we would see the day when we brought him home - it is just a miracle."
