When their first child was born 13 weeks premature and weighing little more than a bag of sugar, Ciaron and Majella Brooks were left hoping for a miracle.

Little Malachy was fighting for his life in an incubator at University College London Hospital (UCLH) from the moment he was born on New Year’s Day earlier this year.

His parents kept an agonising vigil by his life-support device for three months, first at UCLH and then for eight weeks at Barnet Hospital’s Starlight neo-natal unit.

But seven months on, Malachy has been given a clean bill of health and on Monday his parents revisited the ward to thank the staff who cared for their baby.

The couple took with them a cheque for £4,000 raised at a black tie fundraiser earlier this year, which will help pay for new comfortable bedrooms on the ward for parents of babies who are born prematurely.

Ciaron, an account manager from Ivere Drive, High Barnet, said he and his wife Majella felt compelled to give something back after the “exemplary” care they received.

The 35-year-old said: “It was a traumatic time for us - it was our life for three months. But the care and compassion we were given by the staff was amazing – it was so important.

“Until it happens to you, you don’t appreciate the stress it can bring. It was a very difficult time for us but it was a made a little easier thanks to the staff at Barnet.”

More than £7,000 was raised at the fundraiser in the Village Hotel, Elstree, in July, hosted by the Brooks Academy of Irish Dancing, which was set up by Ciaron's father 40 years ago.

A total of £3,000 was earlier donated to UCLH and, on Monday, Great British and national Irish dancing champion Christine Bresnan handed a £4,000 cheque to the Starlight ward with Malachy's parents.

Malachy weighed just 2lbs when he was born but returned to the hospital this week a happy and healthy 10lbs 13oz.

Ciaron said: “It felt a little strange walking through the doors again but it is so nice to be able to come back and see how far we have come, as well as giving back something to the ward.”

Majella, 35, added: “We just want to make other families aware of the work that goes on at these units. You hear so many bad things about the NHS but this unit became like a home for us for two months and the care was superb.

“We have always wanted to do something to recognise the journey we have been on during the past seven months and this is one way of doing that – Malachy really is a little miracle.”