'She's our little Christmas miracle' - These were the words of Meenu Varma, who yesterday marked the 200th day her baby daughter Sainika would spend in the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
But along with Sainika's father, Pradeep Thirunavukkarasu, the family turned the bedroom they have called home for months into an attraction to rival Santa's grotto.
With twinkling lights, Christmas music and dressing little Sainika - who despite being six months old is the size of a new born - up as an elf, they were determined not to let their hospital stay ruin their daughter's first Christmas.
And with personal touches such as a reindeer made out of Sainika's handprints, and a Christmas card featuring a festive photo of the baby, they managed to bring their family Christmas into the hospital room.
Sainika was born in Ipswich on June 8, even though she wasn't due until September 4.
'We were transferred here on the first day,' said Mrs Varma, 30. 'We celebrated her 100 days here, but we hope after the next 100 we'll be at home.'
As staff poured into the bedroom to wish the family, who live in Stowmarket, a merry Christmas, Sainika was all smiles.
'She's such a happy baby,' Mrs Varma added, as the nurses who had got to know the family so well picked the baby up for Christmas cuddles.
'It's her first Christmas, so we wanted to give her the best it may be, even if she can't really know about it she'll look back and know where she was,' said Mr Thirunavukkarasu, a business owner.
The pair have also been taking lots of photos of Sainika, who is their first child, and Mrs Varma is creating a book to document her first few months.
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