MEET two little ladies who are nowhere near as little as they were this time last year.
Port Talbot twins Maddison and Brooke really were miracle babies when they were born exactly 12 months ago today — while their mum Michelle Morris's story is something of miracle in itself.
She was told she had almost no chance of conceiving naturally and "died" on an operation table during a routine hospital procedure.
But today a family get-together was taking place at Michelle's home at St Joseph's Park in Aberavon to celebrate the twins' first birthday.
Crawling
"They're doing really well," said the doting mum. "They're into everything at the moment.
"Although they can't walk yet they are crawling and pulling themselves up everywhere.
"They were born very small and they're still small, but they are both really healthy."
Michelle has epilepsy and endometriosis, a chronic long-term condition that can cause pain, lack of energy, depression and fertility problems.
Three years ago, she suffered a massive cardiac arrest while undergoing a routine exploratory procedure in hospital.
Her heart stopped but surgeons managed to revive her.
She had been told she would only have a seven per cent chance of having children without fertility treatment.
Eventually she decided to adopt, only to find out she was pregnant on the day she sent off an adoption pack.
But even then there were more medical dramas to come. When she was 23 weeks pregnant, Michelle went into labour and there were fears she would lose the babies.
Fortunately they held on for another 10 weeks. Then Michelle had pre-eclampsia, a potentially fatal condition, and the babies were delivered by emergency C-section at Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend. Maddison was born weighing 3lb 4oz, while Brooke was 3lb 2oz.
Both spent weeks in the hospital's special care baby unit but are now up to 15lb and 17lbs respectively.
"They're totally different in character," said Michelle, who will celebrate her 22nd birthday next month.
"Brooke is totally relaxed and laid-back, while Maddison is a little terror — she's quite a handful."
Playgroup
Michelle hopes to get the girls started in a playgroup before long.
In the meantime she takes them to regular nursery rhyme sessions at Port Talbot Library.
She is also in contact with Tamba, the national twins and multiple births association.
"There are groups all over the UK but none in this area," she added.
"I'm in discussions with them at the moment and I'm hoping to start one up in Neath and Port Talbot.
"From what I can gather there are a lot of twins around here."
paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk
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