Little fighter survives to fulfil school dream (From Gazette Series)

Little fighter survives to fulfil school dream

A LITTLE girl whom doctors gave only slim chances of survival after her premature birth has started school.

Martha Hurrell, from Dursley, was born at only 23 weeks and spent much of her early life in hospital.

But, now aged four, the little fighter has been enrolled at Dursley Church of England Primary School.

Mum Helen said: "You never allow yourself to dream about these moments because it was day-by-day in and out of hospital.

"We have spent much of the last few years living life an hour at a time.

"The winter before last she was in a critical condition."

Doctors were less than optimistic when Martha was born and prepared Helen and her husband Paul for the worse.

At one stage a "do not resuscitate" order was imposed but Martha has proved the experts wrong and has recovered beyond all expectations.

The icing on the cake came when she put on her school uniform for the first time at the start of this term.

Mrs Hurrell said: "I could hear myself saying 'she is starting school in September' but I wasn't believing it.

"There were parents crying on the first day saying goodbye to their children but I didn't cry. It all just fades into insignificance after all she's been through."

Martha suffers from chronic lung disease and her health is a constant worry for her parents, especially now she has started school.

Mrs Hurrell said: "When children start school they start to pick up all the usual bugs that go around.

"With Martha, even the slightest cold can develop into pneumonia."

Martha seems oblivious though to the potential threats school might pose to her health. A happy and very talkative little girl, she is keen to pursue her love of animals.

She told the Gazette: "I want to be a veterinary nurse."

Proud mum Helen added: "Doctors thought there might be neurological damage but there is nothing apart from that she needs glasses and the condition of her lungs.

"Martha is normal and very active and that is why she is such an amazing little girl."