THIRTEEN years ago today the life of Chepstow’s Brogan Mills was hanging in the balance after he was born 13 weeks premature and weighing only 1lb 12oz.

Yet today the youngster, who doctors feared might not make it through the first 72 hours of his life, is fighting fit and celebrating becoming a teenager.

Brogan spent his first few weeks in 1998 on the special care unit at the Royal Gwent Hospital after his mother Lucy Miller, 30, had to have an emergency caesarean due to him being in distress in the womb.

Brogan’s weight went down to 1lb 9oz at one stage and the newborn also stopped breathing twice during his hospital stay.

But the new teenager, who also had to have a couple of operations for hernias when he was very young, is now studying at Chepstow Comprehensive and enjoying life along with his brothers Bradley, 11, Dylan, nine and Oliver, six.

He will celebrate his birthday with a family meal and playing on his new computer games.

Ms Miller said: "I’m really proud of him and really pleased to see this day. It just shows the fantastic work done at hospitals and what can be achieved."