A family have hailed their latest addition a “miracle” as she continues to confound doctors with her amazing progress after being born at just 24 weeks, weighing 1lb 4oz.

Grace Hope Holdsworth was not due until January 5, but she was born on September 19 after her mum’s waters ruptured.

Sarah Holdsworth, 24, of Wibsey, was initially taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary, where doctors suspected she was suffering from an infection and arranged her transfer to Liverpool Women’s Hospital, a recognised centre of excellence for neonatal care.

Doctors warned the family the baby might not survive the birth.

Sarah, who remains in hospital in Liverpool with her daughter, said: “Doctors said they did not think she would pull through – I felt my world had fallen apart.

“After she was born she was taken straight to the neonatal unit and it wasn’t until a couple of hours later that I saw her. I was scared because she had tubes coming out all over her and weighed just 1lb 4oz.

“They were saying they would do what they could and if she pulled through, she pulled through. Since then she has been fighting and doing really well and making progress every day.

“She is being fed breast milk because it is like gold dust to her and she now weighs 1lb 7oz and is stable.

“She is my little miracle and that is why I chose her name.”

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