Family delay Christmas until one pound baby is home

A FAMILY who delayed Christmas until their ‘miracle’ baby was well enough say having her home is the best present ever.

Little Darcey Grace Clegg weighed just one pound five ounces when she was born 12 weeks premature in September - barely heavier than a bag of sugar.

The brave little tot spent the first three months of her life, including Christmas Day, in intensive care, her parents Gill Clegg and Mark Moscrop by her side.

But on December 30 Gill and Mark, who described Darcey as their ‘little miracle’, finally got the news they were longing for when doctors said she was healthy enough to go home.

And the family belatedly marked the big day by opening her presents, which had been kept wrapped up under the tree.

Gill, 45, of Littleborough, Rochdale, said: “She’s just brilliant. She’s settled in fantastically and it’s the best late Christmas present we could have asked for.

“We couldn’t take presents onto the ward so we were waiting to celebrate Christmas until she was home.

“We were able to enjoy it properly five days after Christmas Day when we were allowed to take her home.

“We all opened her presents together. She got a jungle gym, loads of clothes and a glow worm which lights up and plays sounds. That one is definitely her favourite present and she absolutely loves it.”

Gill, who has three other children, had refused to take her Christmas tree down until Darcey, who now weighs a much healthier 5lb 10oz, came home – and had even vowed to keep it up until Easter if need be.

She added: “The tree is still up while we’re celebrating. I’ll let myself take it down on January 5 so I don’t get bad luck.”

Darcey’s brother and sisters love having her home, too, and Gill says her sister Olivia, 15, is particularly good at helping out.

Gill added: “Darcey is absolutely fine now. She still needs extra check-ups because she was born prematurely but other than that the doctors are happy with her progress.”