Miracle baby survived after being born at 24 weeks – weighing 1lb 6oz and with feet the size of pennies
MIRACLE baby Francesca Bradley-Curran survived being born at 24 weeks, weighing 1lb 6oz and with feet the size of a 1p coin.
Mum Victoria Bradley, 37, was told to expect the worst when Francesca arrived.
The tot needed 15 blood transfusions and eye surgery, and fended off meningitis, septicaemia, sepsis, lung and kidney problems.
But nine months on, she is home in Fazakerley, Liverpool.
Victoria said: "As soon as Francesca was born they had her on a machine straight away.
"I remember the room being full of people, there was about 15 doctors and nurses all working on her.
"They were using just a finger to bring her around because she was so small.
"It took 11 minutes for her to breathe.
"It was torture, not knowing if she was going to survive."
After four weeks, Victoria had her critically-ill daughter's penny-sized foot and handprints tattooed on her wrist to symbolise her little miracle.
Victoria said: "She just kept getting stronger each day, then something else would happen.
"But after eight weeks, she was off her incubator.
"The doctors couldn't believe she was still alive.
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"She was discharged from the hospital after 17 weeks – they said she was a miracle.
"I was so nervous about having her on my own.
"When we were leaving, I just thought, 'Quick! Run!'
"I wanted us to get out, I'd thought she was going to be about five by the time she got out the way things were going."
The doctors couldn't believe she was still alive
Now the tot is completely free of life supporting medications, wires and oxygen, Victoria says it's hard to imagine her little fighter was born so tiny and ill.
"She's just a joy, she's so happy.
"And she's cheeky too.
"When she had her oxygen wires she was always pulling them out", she said.
"It's just great to finally have her home.
"I didn't think she would be here.
"It's scary to think if she had been just two days earlier they wouldn't have worked to save her."