My tiny 1lb 9oz baby squeezed my hand - and gave me hope

Dylan Ardill had suffered a bleed on the brain, had a hole in his heart and his lungs had not formed properly.

He was born weighing less than 2lb and could have fitted into the palm of his father's hand. 

Tender touch: The picture, taken under ultraviolet light, which the Ardill family will treasure forever

But a week later came a signal which filled his parents Ralph and Annalex with hope.

He raised his hand and gave his mother's finger a squeeze as Mr Ardill captured the moment on camera. 

That moment proved to be a turning point.

Dylan began to put on weight, his medical problems were resolved and, at three months old, he was allowed home from St Mary's Hospital in West London.

He is now a healthy two-year-old.

'We will treasure that photograph for the rest of our lives,' said his 33-year-old mother, who runs a design company with her husband.

'It was the moment our son told us that he was going to make it.'

Healthy and happy: Dylan and his mum Annalex

Mrs Ardill had been expecting twins and the pregnancy went smoothly until a scan at 21 weeks showed that the second twin had no heartbeat.

Six weeks later, she went into premature labour as the second twin had moved into the birth canal.

Dylan arrived minutes later, weighing 1lb 9oz. He had to be resuscitated and was put straight on to a ventilator in intensive care. He also needed several blood transfusions.

Mrs Ardill, from North London, said: 'Both Ralph and I were terrified that we were going to lose him as he had been born so early.

'He was the size of a little bird. It was awful to see him lying there, surrounded by tubes and monitors.' 

After Dylan began his recovery, the couple were allowed to cuddle him for the first time.

Mrs Ardill said: 'He was so light it felt like I didn't have anything in my arms at all.

'As each day passed, he grew stronger. One by one, tubes and machines were removed from him and he started coping on his own. It was amazing to see.'

Dylan has often been shown the treasured family photograph. His mother added: 'He points to it and says that it's his hand on mummy's.

'One day we will explain to him just how special that photograph is to us, and how when we were in despair, he had given us such an amazing message of hope.

'No one would ever believe that he had such a traumatic start to life.'

The couple are fundraising for the Winnicott Foundation, which supports the premature baby unit at St Mary's. For more information visit www.winnicott.org.uk