BIRTHDAY celebrations came early for a brave five-year-old boy who has undergone treatment for two spinal tumours.

Alexander McRoberts will be in hospital on his actual birthday on December 3 for his fifth and final operation to help him lead a normal life.

To make sure he didn’t miss out on his big day, his mum Fran, 40, of Blunt Road, Beggarwood, Basingstoke, threw her courageous youngster an early birthday bash at Basingstoke Sports Centre in Festival Place last Sunday, inviting 25 of his pals.

Afterwards, Fran said: “He was so excited and took two days to get over it.”

Surgeons at Southampton General Hospital will operate on Alexander, who attends St Mary’s Primary School in Hatch Warren, to help alleviate problems with his bladder that have arisen as a result of the various health issues he has had.

If successful, the operation will be the closing chapter on what has been a lifetime of major surgery and disruption to Alexander’s life.

Alexander was born with a huge teratoma tumour, which weighed more than he did. Doctors gave him just a 50 per cent chance of survival, and feared he would suffer brain damage and paralysis if he lived.

The plucky little boy also had a second tumour removed from his spine in a 15-hour operation. During his harrowing treatment, his heart has stopped twice, he has been in intensive care five times and was once in a coma.

Now Fran, who has become a full-time carer for her boy, sees light at the end of the tunnel after five dark years. She said: “He will be a new boy and will be able to lead an active life.”