A FAMILY are celebrating a special Christmas this year with their own miracle baby.

Tiny Dolly Marie fought for her life after being born three months early and weighing less than 2lb but is home with parents Christian Struckl and Nichola Doherty after a remarkable battle.

Proud Ms Doherty, 39, of Challener Road, High Wycombe, said: "She's very special and a little star. We're very excited about her first Christmas."

Dolly Marie was born 12 weeks early by emergency Caesarean. Ms Doherty had been rushed to Wycombe Hospital on June 6 after doctors discovered she had pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy complication caused by a defect in the placenta, during a 28-week antenatal checkup.

A scan found Dolly Marie was not growing enough and doctors decided to deliver the baby the next day.

Ms Doherty said: "It all happened very quickly. I felt shocked and worried."

When she was born, Dolly Marie weighed just 1lb 12oz. She was immediately wrapped in foil and taken to the special care baby unit, where she was put on a life support machine for 24 nerve-racking hours.

Dolly then spent five weeks in an incubator, and stayed in the special care unit for eight weeks. During her time at hospital, Dolly Marie had several blood transfusions.

Ms Doherty said: "It was a very scary time.

"But we're amazed by her progress. It's been fantastic."

Now Dolly Marie is a healthy 11lb 2oz and her family are looking forward to Christmas.

Ms Doherty said: "She'll get thoroughly spoilt, especially by her nanny. She's grandchild 26, but the only miracle baby. All the others were born the normal time and weight."

Brothers Kai, four, and Sven, three, are delighted to have their sister home. Ms Doherty said: "They absolutely adore her."