Meet three-month-old Alex

Alex was born at just 23 weeks and weighed less than a can of soup. Sadly he lost his twin brother Riley due to complications associated with his extreme premature birth. Alex spent the first three months of his life on a ventilator to help aerate his tiny lungs, and at only eight days of age he underwent surgery for a hole in his bowel. Because Alex's immune system had not had a chance to develop fully in the womb, he had to wait a whole six weeks for his first cuddle from Mum and Dad! Fortunately, after 137 days in hospital, Alex was finally discharged.

Moving forward, Alex will be at greater risk of developing motor and cognitive delays as a result of his premature birth. Using transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (TMS), which involves a painless investigation of brain function, researchers at the Children's Research Centre and the Robinson Institute are trying to learn more about the adverse affects of preterm birth on brain function.

They hope to use this knowledge to pioneer therapeutic interventions that will overcome long-term delays to brain development and help preterm children reach their full potential at school and in later life.

We need your help to further this important research. Please donate here to make a difference to Alex and the lives of other children born prematurely.