EIGHT months ago, little baby Jaydan Marsh was born 18 weeks prematurely, weighing just 1lb 2oz and was the size of a biro pen.

Now the youngster is well on the road to recovery as a boucing 10lbs baby.

His mum Natalie Marsh, 24, of Somerton hasn’t been able to visit little Jaydan at the Royal Gwent Hospital for two weeks.

She has been suffering from a cold and doesn’t want to spread germs to the youngster who has fought a series of life-threatening problems.

The youngster suffered bleeding on both sides of his brain and had to have 60% of his bowel removed after doctors found part of it was dead when he was born.

In June, Jaydan was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff and received treatment to repair a duct in his heart that was leaking blood into his other organs. He also suffered from cysts on his swollen lungs which were making breathing difficult and had to have veins removed that were growing into his eyes.

The brave youngsters overcame these problems and is now back at the Royal Gwent Hospital where his tiny body had started digesting food.

He had been on a ventilator to help him breathe and was being fed proteins through a Hickman Line, which is an intravenous catheter.

In the last couple of months, his body has started tolerating some milk given to him through a tube. He put on weight and his family hoped he would be home for Christmas.

But he contracted a virus, which has knocked his progress and now he will have to stay in hospital until at least March.

Painter and decorator husband Rob, 25, visited Jaydan for the first time in a fortnight on Wednesday. The couple plus daughter Katelyn, 19 months had been staying away from the Intensive Childrens’ Ward as they have all had viruses.

With Jaydan’s first Christmas fast approaching, Mrs Marsh is desperate to make it as special for her son as possible.

Only two visitors are allowed on the ward at a time and most presents including teddy bears are banned because of the risk of germs being spread.

Mrs Marsh said: “It’s quite hard having him away from his family for his first Christmas. But I’ll get him lots of plastic toys for him to play with."