Miracle baby home at last

ADORING family . . . dad Richard Cunningham, brother Josef Cunningham mum Stacey Butterworth, Elsie-May Cunningham and Jacob Cunningham

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Miracle baby Elsie-May Cunningham has been allowed home to her family after spending the first 12 weeks of her life in the Royal Oldham Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Elsie-May weighed less than a bag of sugar - just 1lb 9oz - when she was born at 26 weeks on New Year’s Day.

Her parents, Stacey Butterworth and Richard Cunningham, were warned she might not survive more than a few days but the tiny baby proved to be a fighter. At 14 weeks old, she has been allowed to leave hospital for the first time and is being spoilt by her family and adoring visitors in Chadderton.

The family is now hoping to raise money for the NICU unit to thank the doctors and nurses who saved the baby’s life.

Mum Stacey (40) said: “It is amazing to finally have her home after the worries of the past few months.

“She’s grown so much over the past few weeks. “Her brothers absolutely adore her — she’s getting cuddles constantly. She’s just perfect, we feel so blessed.

“I thought no baby could survive being born that early. I was sure I would lose her.”

Elsie-May was born by Caesarean section on New Year’s Day: “She was so tiny and frail. Everyone prepared us that she might not make it. But each day she kept getting bigger and stronger.”

Doctors have also confirmed Elsie-May - now 5lb 7oz - has no long-term health conditions after arriving so early.

“She will have to be on oxygen for a few months while she is at home, and will be smaller than other children for a few years but she will hopefully experience a normal life,” said her doting mother.

The family has already raised around £2,000 for the hospital’s baby unit and plans more events.