By Janine Yaqoob PUBLISHED: 07:03 EST, 30 December 2012 | UPDATED: 23:28 EST, 31 December 2012 A baby boy who underwent open heart surgery when he was just a few days old has defied doctors' predictions and made it home for his first Christmas. Little Alfie Donnelly was just four days old when he was diagnosed with a number of life-threatening heart defects. Doctors warned his parents, Claire and Anthony, that Alfie had zero chance of survival without a complicated operation to re-plumb his tiny heart - which would leave him with a high risk of brain damage.
@highlight
Little Alfie Donnelly was diagnosed with life-threatening heart defects
@highlight
Doctors said his only chance of survival would be a complicated seven-hour operation
@highlight
Parents Claire and Anthony, from Birmingham, were told it would be a 'miracle' if he survived
@highlight
After a miraculous recovery Alfie made it home for Christmas
Claire
@placeholder, a contracts manager, said: 'The decision to operate was harrowing because it felt like we were signing his life away, but really there was no decision to make.
Alfie Donnelly
Alfie
Alfie Donnelly
Alfie
Mum Claire is now looking forward to a bright future for @placeholder