A MIRACLE baby is to spend her first Christmas at home after fighting for her life in intensive care this time last year.

Sian Cotton will experience her first Christmas at her family home in Dalton after overcoming life-threatening hurdles.

The 13-month-old has been nominated to be an Evening Mail Christmas Star for her bravery.

Sian was born at Furness General Hospital in Barrow weighing just 1lb 8oz in November last year, in the middle of Storm Abigail.

She was born with severe sepsis at 27 weeks, and rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit at the Royal Preston Hospital. Sian was ventilated three times and crashed, requiring lifesaving CPR several times.

Sian also spent time at Royal Lancaster Infirmary, the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Furness General Hospital as she was treated for a grade four brain bleed, chronic lung disease, a hole in her heart, kidney problems, paralysis of the right arm and cerebral palsy, for which has now has physio.

Sian was allowed to go home on February 7 - one day before her actual due date of February 8. She had to have oxygen at home for a while. The youngster still spends a lot of time at hospitals, with many appointments for her ongoing care as she is likely to need heart surgery.

Sian has been nominated as a Christmas Star by her proud gran Lorraine Benson. Mrs Benson said Sian's mum and dad Rachel and Jono Cotton, and the rest of her family are going to make this Christmas extra-special as Sian missed out on her first.

Mrs Benson said: "I have nominated Sian for being such a little fighter and overcoming so many hurdles in her short life.

"Overcoming so many obstacles, she is the child with the dancing eyes, always smiling and happy. She draws attention wherever she goes, she's a real Christmas star always twinkling and brightening even a stranger's day. She's our little miracle baby."

The former nurse thanked all the medical staff across the Barrow, Preston, Lancaster and Manchester NHS hospitals who fought to save Sian and look after her ongoing care.

Mrs Benson said: "Without them Sian would not have survived. We are so grateful to them, they are all wonderful. She has had top care."

The Evening Mail has again teamed up with Heath's Toymaster to honour courageous and selfless children in our communities.

The Christmas Star winners receive a surprise visit at home from Father Christmas who presents them with beautiful toys courtesy of Heath's in Dalton Road, Barrow. The Evening Mail will also host a special Christmas gathering with Father Christmas for nominated children on Friday December 23.

Nominations are open to children up to 13 years old who are from across Furness, Millom, Ulverston and the south Lakes.

Children can be nominated by filling out the digital form at nwemail.co.uk or by using the coupons printed in the Evening Mail. Nominations close this Friday.