FOR MANY parents, the first day your child starts at a new school is an extremely emotional experience.

But for mum Mandy Anderson, of High Road, Tunnel Hill, Worcester, having 11-year-old son Ross head off for his first day at Tudor Grange Academy was an even more momentous occasion.

When she was pregnant, Mrs Anderson was told her baby had only a one per cent chance of survival because she was losing amniotic fluid and had suffered several previous miscarriages.

Ross then made an early entrance into the world at just 28 weeks on August 11, 2001, weighing a tiny 2lb and 10oz after his mum went into labour while excitedly cheering on her winning horse ‘Lucky Jim’ at Worcester Racecourse.

His dramatic birth earned him a place on the front page of the Worcester Evening News after he spent two months in the special care unit at Birmingham City Hospital before being transferred to Ronkswood Hospital and eventually allowed home in October.

Over the years, the family has had to face Ross suffering a number of health issues, some of which doctors said may be attributed to being born prematurely.

And on Monday his mum had to face yet another difficult challenge as she waved her son off at the high school gates.

Mrs Anderson, 47, said: “When Ross was at St Barnabas, whether it was the Easter bonnet parade or the school play, the other parents knew how emotional I would get and came along with tissues for me.

“In the morning I tried not to show Ross that I was upset but on the walk back home I had a good cry. I’d come prepared with my own tissues.”

Ross’ most recent operation took place in April to stabilise his left knee which left him bed-ridden for a month.

However, he still managed to use a wheelchair to make sure he could take his year six SATs. Mrs Anderson said: “We knew he was a fighter when the nurses told us during a scan that he had a strong heartbeat.

“Me and my husband Carl are just so extremely proud of him and how far he has come since his birth.”