CHRISTMAS MIRACLES

We catch up with premature babies you helped save last Christmas by raising £100k – and they are thriving

THESE tiny tots really are Christmas miracles.

All were born premature last year, each weighing less than a bag of sugar – but just look at them now.

Advertisement
These premature babies you helped save last Christmas by raising £100k are now thrivingCredit: Olivia West - The Sun

The Sun met them in December 2018 when we travelled to hospitals up and down the country to hand out goody bags to families being looked after on neo-natal wards.

Together with charity Bliss, which helps ill and premature babies, Sun readers raised more than £100,000 to support poorly newborns.

Here, we catch up with these gorgeous youngsters and their parents to hear how Christmas will be very different this year.

Elena

ELENA Austin was born at 24 weeks in October 2018 at Barnet Hospital, North London, weighing 1lb 7oz. Mum Simone, 35, and dad Chris, 31, run a branding business from their home in Borehamwood, Herts. They also have six-year-old Joey and 15-week-old Damien.

Advertisement
Elena Austin was born last October and this is going to be her first proper Christmas with her familyCredit: Olivia West - The Sun
Elena was 'the size of a mobile phone' when she was born at 24 weeks

Simone said: “When Elena was born, her body was the size of my mobile phone.

“Last Christmas Day was horrible. When I saw the nurses had dressed her in a Christmas outfit, I just broke. I cried for an hour straight.

Advertisement

“This year will be our first proper Christmas with her, and she might be walking by then. She’s pulling herself up to standing and she’s like a little rocket crawling now.

“And she is a lovely big sister to Damien.”

Mum Simone and dad Chris say Elena is 'a lovely big sister to 15-week-old Damien'Credit: Olivia West - The Sun

Teddy

TEDDY Bennetts was born at 27 weeks in November 2018 at Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, weighing 2lb 6oz. Mum Jade Bennetts, 29, an accounts assistant, also has son Reagan, eight. Dad Jake Gallagher, 26, a transport controller, also has daughter Esmae, four.

Advertisement
Teddy Bennetts was born at 27 weeks in November 2018Credit: Olivia West - The Sun
Teddy spent nine days in critical care at Heartlands Hospital, BirminghamCredit: Paul Tonge - The Sun

Jade said: “Teddy was in critical care for nine days. Around August, he suddenly started sitting, rolling and crawling.

“He’s 16lb now and people still think he’s six months old. They look very confused when they see him tottering along with his walker.”

Advertisement
Mum Jade and dad Jake with one-year-old Teddy, who weighs 16lb nowCredit: Olivia West - The Sun

Olivia

OLIVIA Dawson was born in October 2018 at 27 weeks at Pinderfields Hospital, West Yorks, weighing just under 2lb. Mum Lucy, 39, a nurse, and dad Richard, 38, a security surveyor, who live in Heckmondwike, West Yorks, also have son Jack, six.

Olivia Dawson, born last October, has grown into a little diva, mum Lucy saysCredit: Olivia West - The Sun
Olivia weighed just under 2lb when she was born and 'there have been ups and downs' sinceCredit: Glen Minikin - The Sun
Advertisement

Lucy said: “There have been ups and downs over the year but Olivia has amazed us all. She’s a little diva. She certainly knows how to make herself heard.”

Richard added: “Olivia is due to have a brain scan in the New Year to check for cerebral palsy. But we’re looking forward to her first proper Christmas. She’ll get her first visit to Santa, too.”

Olivia will get her first visit to Santa this Christmas, dad Richard saysCredit: Olivia West - The Sun

Cain & Kian

TWINS Cain and Kian were born at Burnley’s Women’s and Newborn Centre in October 2018 at 30 weeks. Cain weighed 2lb 2oz and Kian 2lb 8oz. They live in Bradford with mum Lisa-Marie Roberts, 38, who also has daughters Katy, 13, and Chloe, ten.

Advertisement
Cain was born last October 2018 at 30 weeks weighing 2lb 2ozCredit: Olivia West - The Sun
Mum Lisa hadn’t held Cain for five days after he was born
His twin brother Kian, who weighed 2lb 8oz when he was born, a year onCredit: Olivia West - The Sun
Baby Kian wasn't well enough to come home for Christmas last year
Advertisement

Lisa said: “I had the boys in Burnley because there weren’t enough cots in Bradford, then they were transferred back at five days old. I still hadn’t held either of them then.

most read in fabulous

FESTIVE FUN
Single mum slammed for throwing a 'pity party' as she takes Christmas tree down
NYE GLAM
What the Fabulous fashion editors are wearing for New Years Eve
TINGLE ALL THE WAY
My man & I celebrated the festive season swinging with 250 other people
SAVVY HOLIDAYS
I'm a mum of two & spending Xmas holiday in Spain - it's SAVING me over £1k
'Going through what we did, I’ve learned to just live for the moment', mum Lisa saysCredit: Olivia West - The Sun
Together with charity Bliss, Sun readers raised more than £100,000 for premature babies last Christmas

“Christmas Day was tough. The boys didn’t need special care but they weren’t well enough to come home. The staff did their best to make the day special. There was a Christmas dinner, I dressed the boys in little outfits and some family came to visit.

Advertisement

“On Boxing Day, the doctors told me I could take them home. It was really special because I could take them to see my mum, who was ill with dementia. Sadly, she passed away in January.

“I haven’t planned what we’re doing for Christmas. Going through what we did, I’ve learned to just live for the moment.”

Sun at 50 - How Sun Savers donated to premature babies charity Bliss and the impact it had on readers' lives
Three dads share their experiences with their premature babies and how Bliss helped them
machibet777.com