A CHRISTMAS "miracle" has happened for a Skipton couple with the premature arrival of the baby they never thought they'd have.

Tiny Gabriel Williamson is an unexpected package of joy for his young parents, Sean and Erica, and he's been delivered home just in time for Christmas.

Gabriel is remarkable, not only for the fact that he survived despite being born three months early, but that he was born at all.

For his delighted mum, Erica, had leukaemia as a teenager and the successful treatment she received left her unable to conceive naturally.

It is only thanks to the couple being accepted on to an IVF programme at Leeds General Infirmary, that Erica was able to give birth to Gabriel at Steeton's Airedale General Hospital.

That was four months ago, and the "little fighter" battled hard to survive, with the help of staff at Airedale General's Special Care Baby Unit, to whom Sean and Erica will be eternally grateful.

And only last week, weighing in at a healthy 7lbs, Gabriel was allowed home to his family's cosy home on Carleton Avenue.

Erica, 26, said: "When I went into premature labour at 25 weeks there were fears that the baby might not survive as the odds are heavily stacked against pre-term babies.

"But thanks to the skills of the medical team on the labour ward at Airedale, Gabriel survived the traumatic birth and was transferred to the Special Care Unit.

"The nursing staff have been absolutely brilliant.

"He was a little fighter from the moment he was born. We really can't believe he's here with us. He's the best Christmas present you could hope for really."

Born weighing only 1lb 14oz, Gabriel's early arrival caused several anxious moments for his parents, and several setbacks included two bouts of bacterial meningitis.

His grandmother, Sean's mum, Anne Williamson, said: "Although he will have to remain on medication for some time, Gabe is healthy now, and to his mum and dad he will always be their little Christmas miracle."

Although now happily at home with Gabriel, Sean, an engineer, and Erica had to treat Airedale General as a second home during the months since the birth.

Anne said: "The two of them kept a daily vigil at the Special Care Unit and have nothing but praise for the staff there."

The Williamsons would like to point out that, had last year's proposed merger with Bradford Royal Infirmary gone ahead, the Special Care Unit at Airedale might not have existed when Gabriel was born.

Anne added: "Sean and Erica support the Lord Mayor's Appeal which is raising much-needed funds to help the unit to continue so successfully at Airedale, providing the care that babies like Gabriel need to survive."

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