Liam, 15 months old, was born at 26 weeks at Maitland Hospital, and survived thanks to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at John Hunter Hospital.

Ms Young said her “miracle” son is doing well despite his early arrival via emergency caesarean section.

Ms Young, Liam and his father Sam Sellick and other family members will join a two kilometre “walk for prems” around Sydney’s Centennial Park this Sunday to raise money for Life’s Little Treasures Foundation.

The organisation aims to raise $200,000 to provide support and information to families with ­premature and sick babies.

“Liam arrived on July 6 last year but was due on October 5,” Ms Young said.

“I went into labour at home but all I felt was a few back cramps and I didn’t think it was serious.

“I went to Maitland Hospital, straight into a birthing suite and I was already nine centimetres dilated. Liam was in the breach position so I was given a general anaesthetic for an emergency caesarean.

“The hospital did all it could for both of us and gave Liam oxygen to help him breathe but there was no NICU equipment there.

“It was half an hour before the NICU arrived with a special cot to get Liam to John Hunter Hospital.”

Liam has some developmental delays and a heart condition which needs specialist care, but Ms Young said they are thankful he does not have any major health problems or brain damage.

“He is a beautiful, good boy. He is our light,” she said. “He is crawling and pulls himself up to stand and he needs full time oxygen at home.”

Life’s Little Treasures is happy to take donations at www.lifeslittletreasures.org.au