A baby, who was born three months premature and whose heart stopped beating while on the operating table at St George's Hospital is celebrating her first birthday today (October 17).

Lacey Sherriff underwent emergency surgery at St George's Hospital after developing an often fatal bowel condition. Her mother, Louise, gave birth to her via an emergency caesarean 27 weeks before her due date. Lacey weighed 639 kg (1.4 lbs).

During surgery, Lacey had a cardiac arrest and her heart stopped beating for 12 minutes, due to excessive bleeding, before doctors managed to stabilise her. The team, however, feared the worst when their efforts to resuscitate her during a second 10 minute arrest proved challenging.

Her parents, Louise, 39, and Philip, 41, started to prepare themselves to say goodbye when Dr Donovan Duffy, Consultant Neonatologist, told them that Lacey had pulled herself through and was now more stable, though very unwell.

Her parents were sure she would die and believed they would be registering Lacey's birth and death certificate. After spending 111 days in St George's, Lacey was discharged on February 2018.

Louise, who lives in Ashford with her husband Philip and five-year-old Alfie, said: “It was incredibly scary having an emergency c-section but it was the only option to give Lacey a fighting chance of survival, but then for her to then be so unwell to be rushed to St George’s at five days old for surgery. At this point, I still hadn’t been able to hold my baby and the thought of her having surgery was terrifying.

“Family life was difficult for the four months that Lacey was in hospital and I was blown away by the support provided at St George’s not least for Lacey’s clinical care, but for the support my husband and I received to help with the things you don’t automatically think about such as parking and petrol costs – those little things made a real difference.

“Each day, I’d take Alfie to school, then drive up to St George’s and spend the day with Lacey before rushing home to put Alfie to bed in an evening – that’s when my husband would see Lacey. I wanted to be with her 24/7, but my son also needed me, and I needed him, so it was important to keep some normality. I knew she was in safe hands – the best hands.

“My daughter wouldn’t be celebrating her first birthday if it wasn’t for the staff at St George’s. The care from the moment we arrived to when we left was phenomenal. I can’t fault it.”

Doctors gave Lacey minimal chance to survive, as undergoing such a major surgery at a young age has its risks. Dr Thomas Breen, consultant anaesthetist at St George's, who led the theatre and resuscitation team said: "There were lots of people in the theatre that night – from myself and the anaesthetic team to the surgical, nursing and neonatal staff – all to give Lacey the best chance. The operation was going well, but she deteriorated and we started to fear the worst, but we didn’t give up.

He added: “Lacey is clearly a fighter, we supported her in every way we could but she was the one to pull herself through – defying all the odds. She truly is a remarkable little girl and it’s so great to see her doing so well now.”

Mr Zahid Mukhtar, paediatric surgeon added: "“She’ll continue to have follow up appointments, but she should develop and live a normal life, which is excellent news. Happy first birthday, Lacey – the miracle baby.”