Chloe Wilson survives the 10% odds of survival

Jan 5 2009 by Jon Tunney, The Journal

A TINY baby girl given a 10% chance of survival after she and her twin were born at just 23 weeks has defied the odds and been brought home.

Parents Steven and Michelle Wilson were told to expect to lose both their girls after the death of Ellie at 30 days.

But yesterday Steven, 24, and Michelle, 23, were able to bring their daughter home for the first time after she was born weighing less than a bag of sugar.

The twins had been given less than a 10% chance of survival.

Ellie survived for a month, but Chloe has defied the odds and has gone from strength to strength in hospital.

Steven, of South Hetton, County Durham, said: We have waited 16 weeks for this and it feels fantastic.

It feels just right having her here in her home rather than hospital. I think we must be the only parents who are looking forward to being woken in the night.

Chloe was born at 23 weeks one week below the legal abortion limit after Michelle went into premature labour.

Michelle was first taken to North Durham University Hospital before being transferred to Newcastles RVI where she gave birth.

Chloe was kept in an incubator and connected to oxygen tubes to allow her lungs to grow fully.

And, despite being just 16 weeks old, she has already undergone a number of operations, including a heart procedure and a blood transfusion. She also recently had laser eye surgery to prevent her from going blind.

Michelle, who works in insurance, said: She will need glasses very early on, but as she gets older she could wear contact lenses.

Her peripheral vision wont be as good as ours, but she will be able to see things in front of her and she will never know the difference.

At birth, Chloe weighed just 1lb 2oz, but she is now 6lb 11oz. She is still connected to oxygen tubes 24 hours a day and will continue to rely on them for a couple more months.