Ref. 25700-9Megan O'Mahoney was born 16 weeks premature and was predicted to have around 30 per cent chance of surviving.

Now the bright four-year-old is looking forward to her first day at school at Liden Primary School in Septem-ber.

Her parents Paula, 34, and Duncan, 38, a production operator, feel she is a miracle baby after her twin brother Connor survived for only 17 hours after birth.

Weighing just 1lb 11 ounces, Megan spent five months in the special care baby unit at the former Princess Margaret Hospital.

She has cerebral palsy as a result of haemorrhaging after her birth and epilepsy, which has been brought under control through medication. She also had surgery at the age of three weeks to repair a hole in her heart.

Paula is delighted her daughter is able to attend mainstream school and puts this down to all the help the family have received from health care professionals.

She said: "Megan went on to the fight biggest fight of her life after she was born.

"It is amazing. Doctors said she had 20 or 30 per cent chance of surviving.

"I just think we have been so lucky. I don't think Megan would be able to do as much as she can without all the help we have received as well as all the love from her family and friends.

"She is adored by the whole family. She is quite funny and makes people laugh. But she has a bit of a split personality. Some days she can be really cuddly and the next minute really different."

The twins were conceived as a result of IVF treatment.

Paula added: "We waited about 11 years for a child.

"The day before Connor's funeral we thought we were going to lose Megan as well.

"I never gave up hope. You have to believe it is going to be okay.

"We are going into it with an open mind but Liden Primary have bent over backwards to welcome her.

"I did dream of this one day. A lot of people say they would like their children to go onto university and things like that. All I hope is that she enjoys life, she enjoys school and becomes what she wants to become when she grows up."

Paula wanted to thank everyone who has helped Megan including staff at the special care baby unit at the former PMH, therapists at the Sadler Unit from the Victoria Hospital in Okus Road, home teachers provided by Swindon Council through Portage and the special needs play group Special Tots in Drove Road.