Born profoundly deaf, the schoolboy has never been able to properly celebrate his big day.

But, after a hearing implant operation, Thomas joined twin brother Jack in enjoying his special day like never before.

The boys weighed just 3lb between them when they were born 16-weeks prematurely on April 11, 2001.

Refusing to give up, the tiny pair defied the odds to survive and have battled on despite numerous disabilities.

Proud parents Helen Morgan, 29, and David Ferry, 33, say despite the many struggles the twins face, they are just thankful to have them to celebrate their birthday today.

Helen, of Southwick, Sunderland, said: "It is hard work sometimes, but we just feel so grateful every day to have our two beautiful boys.

"We wouldn't change them for the world. We just feel they must have been given to us for a reason, because we could look after them and love them so much."

As well as his hearing problems, Thomas, who was born first weighing 1lb10oz, also suffers from cerebral palsy. But the George Washington Primary School youngster does not let his disabilities get him down. He uses a special wheelchair and bike at school to get around and join in with his friends.

He underwent the implant operation at hospital in Middlesbrough last summer.

A cochlear hearing implant is an electronic device that gives the sensation of hearing if someone is profoundly deaf, one part is surgically implanted into the ear and the other part is on the outside, a bit like a magnet.

Helen, who lives with her family in Norton Road, added: "It was amazing once they turned it on and he could hear everything.

"When the phone rang for the first time, we had to explain what it was.
We got him a Mickey Mouse toaster that plays a song when the toast pops up and he loves that because he knows when his breakfast is ready."

The Teenage Ninja Turtles-mad youngster is also learning to talk now he can hear, but still uses some sign language and his schoolwork is improving. Helen added: "It has been incredible. Before he would try to make sounds, but they wouldn't mean anything. Now, he is trying to form words. He has been trying to sing Happy Birthday for weeks."

But, the cunning youngster knows how to turn his hearing implant off, and takes the outer piece off whenever his baby cousin, Daniel, visits and starts crying.

Helen said: "It was really funny when he picked up that if he removed the outside of the implant he wouldn't hear the baby cry."

Thomas and Jack spent the first four months of their lives in hospital, and needed numerous operations to keep them alive, including four blood transfusions each, surgery to remove hernias and treatment for severe chest infections because their tiny organs had not formed properly.

Jack, who was born weighing 1lb 6½oz, has problems which are more difficult to define and he goes to Sunderland's Sunningdale School which caters for children with special needs.

Helen said the youngster does not really communicate, has hearing and sight problems and doctors still haven't ruled out that he could be autistic.

She said: "He is a little tinker, he can be a handful. He doesn't like to interact with people, although he is getting a lot more sociable with family and will give cuddles."

The family have bought Jack a fibre optic light display for his birthday, which will hopefully stimulate his senses and he will eventually learn how to change the colours.