LITTLE Poppy Lund may only be six months old but she has faced an uphill battle for survival since the day she was born.

Expectant parents Mandy and Andrew were looking forward to welcoming their baby at the end of the summer but at 26 weeks pregnant, first-time mum Mandy started to feel unwell and after being rushed to hospital, doctors diagnosed second stage pre-eclampsia HELLPS syndrome.

The life-threatening condition can cause organ failure and Mandy, 26, was told that doctors needed to deliver her baby.

Tiny Poppy was born by caesarean section on Monday, May 6, weighing just 1lb 7oz and was taken to Liverpool Women’s Hospital while Mandy stayed at Leighton Hospital in Crewe.

New dad Andrew would visit his wife each morning and then drive to Liverpool to see his newborn daughter before returning to see Mandy each evening.

After five days, Mandy was discharged and was finally able to see her daughter for the first time but it would be three months before the couple could take Poppy home to Winsford and start life as a family.

Now Poppy is six months old and as part of World Prematurity Day, which took place on Sunday, the family are supporting the launch of a new website aimed at helping parents and families who have a baby arrive too soon.

The website provides help and advice from parents who know what it is like to experience the pain and heartache of seeing their baby born prematurely and Mandy says it is the support she received from her husband that helped her while she was in hospital.

Mandy, of Rosewood Drive, in Winsford, said: “Andy had to step in as a mother and father for Poppy and was there to comfort her in one hospital and me in another.

“Andy has never asked for thanks for what he did.

“He now has the most amazing bond with Poppy and whenever he walks into the room her eyes light up.

“I can’t thank him enough for his strength and love.”

The Tommy’s Tower website is also hoping to raise £400,000 to open a new research centre, which will help some of the 60,000 babies born prematurely in the UK each year.

Premature babies are born before they have finished growing and developing which means that they may need long stays in hospital to help them breathe, feed and stay warm.

Jacqui Clinton, health campaigns director at Tommy’s, said: “Premature babies need a lot of support and care in hospital because their organs are underdeveloped and they can be at risk of serious complications.

“Having a premature baby can be incredibly difficult for families and the babies themselves can have longer term health problems.

“The only way forward is to find a way of reducing premature births, which is why Tommy’s research into prematurity and prevention is vital.”

Poppy was allowed home after 14 weeks in hospital, the day before her expected due date, and despite her heart murmur, bowel disease and diabetes, she is a happy and lively little girl, who is looking forward to her Christening next month.

Mandy and Andrew have asked guests to wear World Prematurity Day ribbons on their daughter’s special day to mark her early start in life and her battle to survive.

More information is available at tommystower.org.uk