In a series of heartwarming tales this Saturday, EDP REPORTERS speak to four families who have fought back against the odds
Little Isabelle Everard is full of energy and a chatterbox as well as being 'a little bossy boots'.
But when she was born her parents did not know if she would live – let alone who she would grow to be.
For seven weeks Emma and Steven Everard of Station Road North, Belton, sat by their tiny baby's bedside, totally helpless while nurses in two Norfolk hospitals dealt with a string of complications after she was born prematurely at 29 weeks.
Delighted with their 'totally normal' little girl the couple still vividly remember the trauma of her early birth and fight for survival.
They remain immensely grateful for everything that was done for her at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Gorleston's James Paget University Hospital and continue to make donations when possible.
The latest for £200 is set to be handed over to the JPH's neo-natal unit as a thank-you to staff, whose life-saving care they will never forget.
It was raised during a staff Christmas raffle at Ovamill, a construction business in Beccles, where Mrs Everard, 32, works. Isabelle was delivered by C-section at the N&N weighing only 2lb 1oz, due to pre-eclampsia.
She was transferred after three weeks to the JPH and spent a further four weeks being cared for by the 'fantastic' doctors and nurses.
Mrs Everard said: 'Isabelle is now two years old and is thriving. The neo-natal department is still very dear to us and myself and Steven will never forget the amazing care that was given to Isabelle and the support to us. We will continue to support them where ever possible.'
Despite being later than usual to crawl and walk Isabelle shows no sign of her difficult early start and has regular check ups with a physio and consultant.
Wrapped in her loving parents' arms, little Emelia Carey has no idea she helped her mum beat cancer.
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