Doctors told mum Donna Logue to prepare herself for the worst when Eva Marie was born at just 24 weeks, weighing little more than one pound.
Despite the odds, Eva Marie has battled a wave of complex medical conditions, astounding medics in both Derry and Belfast.

Four weeks ago, the tot, who is now six months old and still weighs less than the average newborn, was finally allowed home for the first time. Donna says the skill and care of her medical teams kept her "little angel" alive.

The Derry woman had barely felt the first kicks of pregnancy when she went into labour at 23 weeks. Just a week later, she gave birth to Eva-Marie.

"When I was wheeled up to see Eva Marie for the first time, I was in shock," says Donna. "Her condition was so critical that doctors told me we'd have to take it hour by hour."

It was three weeks before Donna finally got to hold her little baby.
"'l'lI never forget that first smell of Eva Marie and the touch of her skin. Eva Marie was so tiny that we dressed her in doll's clothes we got from the toy shop. She was only able to take half a teaspoon of breast milk - that's all it took to fill her tiny stomach."

After six weeks, Donna, who has kept a complete diary of Eva's life, received a late night call from the hospital after her daughter's condition deteriorated.

"Eva Marie was vomiting violently and she needed re-ventilated," says Donna. "However, as she was being prepared for re-ventilation, she went into heart failure. Doctors worked hard for the next 40 minutes but Eva Marie died. However, they continued to work with her and, 14 minutes later, I watched as a faint beat from her heart showed up on the monitor.

"The next hour passed in a complete blur. I stood outside the room and prayed to God not to take my little Eva Marie."

Eva Marie was subsequently diagnosed with the life-threatening NAC virus. Doctors revealed that she needed a life-saving operation on her bowel and would have to be transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) in Belfast. However, they feared she may not survive the journey. Her condition was so serious that, on three separate occasions, taxis were sent to Belfast to collect the platelets that were needed to save her life. She eventually underwent an operation to put a drain in her bowel, which saved her.

When Eva Marie began bringing up her feeds again, she was rushed once more to the RVH where doctors diagnosed her with the serious CMV virus.
"Surgeons told me only three other babies had been diagnosed with CMV in the past ten years and none of them had made it," said Donna. "I refused to believe what I was hearing. The next morning she had an operation to remove part of her bowel."

As her condition improved, Eva Marie was transferred to Altnagelvin.
"When she came back to Derry, there was a complete change in her," says Donna. "She would look at you and was so alert."

On September 16, Eva Marie was finally allowed home, but was readmitted to hospital three weeks later due to problems with her feeding. The future, though, looks bright for the brave little girl, and her mum hopes she will be back home soon.

"Eva Marie is a wee miracle," says Donna. "I want people to look at Eva Marie's story and see how she survived at 24 weeks. If there's anyone out there considering abortion, Eva Marie's story may make them think again. Doctors say she is a true warrior. Now she's just like a newborn baby weighing six pounds. Eva Marie is absolutely amazing - she is one of Derry's real life miracles."

Donna says she would like to thank all the doctors and nursing staff at both the RVH and Altnagelvin for their friendship, care and support.