A girl born as Britain's smallest baby ever has celebrated her tenth birthday by being made captain of her school football team.
Aaliyah Hart was just seven inches long and weighed 12oz when she was born three months prematurely in 2003.
Doctors gave her a one per cent chance of survival when they found that her lungs had not developed properly.
Aaliyah Hart was born three months prematurely
weighing just 12oz. She was given a one per cent chance of survival
because her lungs were not yet fully developed
When she was born she was just seven inches long. Her mother was told that she might die in the womb
But Aaliyah - who was small enough to sit in the palm of her mother's hand - astounded medics by surviving.
When
she started school five years ago her mother, Lorriane, 47, was nervous
she would be knocked over in the playground because she only weighed
the same as a two year old.
But
the youngster has since grown into a healthy schoolgirl and is now a
similar size to her classmates - standing at 4ft and weighing 4 stone.
Aaliyah's mother, Lorraine, 37, says that she
never imagined she would see her daughter running around a football
pitch as a healthy ten-year-old
‘She's been given lots of responsibilities at school such as milk monitor, it allows her to assert herself.
‘She really has come a long way - it's been one hell of a journey.’
Aaliyah said she enjoyed getting a chance to play football with friends and her idol was Wayne Rooney.
She said: ‘I really like playing football, it's a lot of fun playing with my friends.
When Aaliyah started school at the age of five
her mother was worried that she would be knocked over in the playground
as she was the same size as a two-year-old
‘Being the captain makes me feel very proud. I like school but I really love sports.
‘I know I'm a bit smaller but I try not to let it make a difference.
‘My favourite team is Manchester United, I really like Wayne Rooney.’
Aaliyah says that her favourite football player is Wayne Rooney and that she is very proud to be the school team's captain
Headteacher Jane Scott said Aaliyah was showing good progress at school and was delighted to see her playing football.
She said: ‘She really is holding her own and it's wonderful to see.
‘She
is progressing well academically and is a very popular little girl. She
is full of confidence and has a wonderful character.
‘To
see where she has come from to playing football with the boys in the
playground is an incredible story considering she was only given such a
slim chance of survival
Aaliyah is a very keen footballer and says that she particularly loves the social side of being in her school's football team
‘She's very good at running, she likes rounders and gymnastics.
‘Over the last six weeks she's really got into her football and has been made captain of the girls' team.
‘It's 50/50 at her school so they usually have the girls against the boys.
‘The social side really appeals to her, everybody loves Aaliyah.’
She added: ‘It's just nice to see her doing normal things, getting involved and jumping around, happy with a smile on her face.
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