Ludlow mum's remarkable little girl born 16 weeks early (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Ludlow mum's remarkable little girl born 16 weeks early

8:21am Thursday 24th May 2012 in News

FAITH is a remarkable baby who was due to enter the world in early July.

But the little girl, whose parents live in Craven Arms and whose mother works in Ludlow, could not wait and took everyone by surprise by arriving in early March – an amazing 16 weeks early.

Mum Vikki, aged 30, and husband John Paul, known as ‘JP’, have been watching with wonder ever since as their little girl slowly grows under the care of the neonatal unit at Shrewsbury Hospital.

“It was all very sudden,”

said Vikki, who has worked at the Gentleman Barber’s Shop in Ludlow for the past six years.

“I was due for my 24-week check up and told my midwife that I thought that my waters had broken and was taken into hospital.

“Normally when the waters break a baby will be born within two days but I managed to hang on for six days, which was important.”

Eventually Faith was born by a breech birth and survived what Vikki and JP were told was the critical first hour – known as ‘the golden hour’.

Since then, it was been a rollercoaster ride for the family but Faith is now breathing some of the time on her own and has more than doubled her birth weight of 1lb 10oz.

Vikki visits the hospital every day and JP, who is deputy manager at the Tuffins’ store in Knighton, goes whenever he can with the couple’s other daughter Amber, aged six.

“We are told that Faith will be in hospital at least until her due date and perhaps longer, but the important thing is that she is making good progress.”

Friends have rallied round and are raising money to help the couple meet the cost of the 50-mile-a-day round trip to hospital and back, as well as raise money for the neonatal unit at Shrewsbury.

Colleagues and customers of Tuffins’ stores in Knighton and Craven Arms are among about 30 people so far signed up to walk up Snowdon in fancy dress to help the cause on Tuesday.

There is a ‘Faith for Faith’ page on Facebook that so far has more than 1,370 members.

On the site, there are regular prayers to ask for Faith’s continued progress.

Donations can also be given to one of the organisers in Tuffins, Knighton.

Right: Faith with her mum Vikki.