A 'miracle' baby who medics claimed would not survive labour or die shortly after born has celebrated her fourth birthday on Christmas Day.
Little Joanne was due in February when her mum Ruth Mothersdale went into premature labour on December 25, 216, and she was born weighing just 4lb 11oz.
Ruth had suffered a number of miscarriages when she fell pregnant with Joanne but a scan at 14 weeks revealed there was no water in the amniotic sac.
Joanne had had a clear heartbeat but weekly scans revealed waters weren’t developing.
When Ruth was 20 weeks pregnant medics delivered the heartbreaking news to her and her partner Tom McKenna that there was a three per cent chance their baby would survive childbirth and if she did, would die soon after.
The devastated couple were advised to terminate the pregnancy but refused.
Four years on and Joanne is like any other child of her age.
Her grateful parents have spoken out as as they reflect on the milestone moments they never thought they would experience with Joanne.
Ruth, 28, told Telegraph and Argus said: “At the time, we didn’t think we were going to get any time with her, now she’s going to be four. It’s surreal.”
The couple, who also have a nine-year-old son TJ, had not bought anything for Joanne's early arrival and they focused on making the most of every moment they could spend with her believing they could lose her at any moment.
Proud Dad Tom, 30, said medics called his daughter a 'Christmas miracle'.
Joanne was in hospital for around three weeks while tests were being done and she was allowed to go home with the help of the hospital's neo-natal team.
However for much of the first year of her life Joanne was in and out of hospital many times with health scares and in one terrifying episode she stopped breathing.
Ruth and Tom had to resuscitate their daughter at home to save her life.
Describing the horrifying episode as 'awful' Tom said he 'would never want to do it again'.
He added: “It was ‘if I don’t do this, she’s going to die’."
Tom said he broke down in the hospital corridor when Joanne arrived for emergency treatment.
Now every year that Joanne celebrates her birthday is a poignant reminder of what her parents were told before she was born.
Tom recalls coming home from work recently to find his 'outgoing, bubbly' daughter sitting on the bottom step waiting for him.
Ruth said Joanne, who is now at nursery, is a 'miracle' who wants to help with 'every little job' and she is just like a 'normal, happy four-year-old'.
She added: “We are really happy. It’s hard to comprehend, because you put your faith in doctors and obviously you take on board what they are saying."
The delighted parents say the initial stress and worry they faced in the first part of Joanne’s life has now disappeared and it's now 'onwards and upwards' for the family.
