AN eternally grateful mum has thanked the "miracle worker" who saved her life and all those who fought for her and "pieced her back together"after she suffered severe injuries – making it possible for her to have a "miracle" baby.

Ulverston's Sandy Nevinson is forever indebted to her life-saving cardiac surgeon Andrew Duncan at the Lancashire Cardiac Centre, at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Mr Duncan operated on Miss Nevinson for 15 hours to fix her ruptured aorta, a commonly fatal injury, which she suffered after being hit by a car in Ulverston in 2014.

She had been out walking with her cousin, Jessica Quayle, 19, but tragically the teenager died after a speeding car struck them.

Miss Nevinson was airlifted by the North West Air Ambulance to the Royal Preston Hospital and then transferred to the Blackpool hospital by ambulance – with the paramedics literally keeping their fingers crossed for her.

Mr Duncan, who had already worked a full day, was ready and waiting with his surgical team to operate.

The 28-year-old Ulverston mum, said: "There are no words in this world to thank Mr Duncan enough for what he did. He is my miracle worker.

“He told me that my injury is usually fatal. I’m the fourth in 20 odd years that he knows of to survive that injury.

“It brings home to you that I nearly wasn’t here. It makes it real, he really has performed a miracle.

“The two ladies who drove me from Preston to Blackpool had to drive at 15mph because the journey couldn't be bumpy and they drove with their fingers crossed. They also told my mum to keep her fingers crossed and she drove all the way there with her fingers crossed."

Miss Nevinson returned to the Lancashire Cardiac Centre to support Heart Month and the Blue Skies Hospitals Fund for the centre. An Ulverston fundraising event helped to raise £2,500 for this charity in 2015, as well as £2,500 for the North West Air Ambulance.

The mum-of-two was also able to introduce her eight-month-old daughter, Alexa-Grace to her life-saver. The "miracle" baby also wouldn't be here without Mr Duncan and all the emergency services and medics at the various North West hospitals who have fought for, operated on and treated Miss Nevinson, who suffered multiple severe injuries.

Mr Duncan, said: “Sandy sustained a ruptured or transected aorta (the main artery in the body originating from the left ventricle of the heart) when she was hit by the car in addition to serious internal pelvic injuries and a femoral fracture. This is an immediately life-threatening situation and many patients will die before reaching hospital.

“I was delighted to see Sandy with Alexa – it’s fantastic that she has recovered so well and been able to have another baby.

“She has come through a lot and still has more surgery to face. I have great admiration for her fortitude and the determination that has got her through the past two years. I was very happy to see her and her family. This sort of visit really makes our task seem worthwhile.”

It was feared that Miss Nevinson could have been left paralysed by her injuries. She did have to use a wheelchair for three months, but with the surgeries, recovery and extensive physio, she has was able to walk and she continually improves her mobility.

Miss Nevinson's shattered pelvis was fixed and plated front and back at Wrightington Hospital, Wigan, and her femoral fracture was operated on at Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool – she had four inches of her femur removed and it was encouraged to grow back using external fixators.

There have also been numerous other operations and treatments, including at Furness General Hospital in Barrow. Miss Nevinson is still to have further surgeries on her left leg.

She said: "The list just goes on and on with all the people who have helped me, right back to my physio Mark Coulson, in Ulverston, he has been there since the start for me. I'm so grateful to everyone who has helped me. They have literally pieced me back together."

There was no certainty because of the severity of her injuries if she could carry another baby, but she fell pregnant in November 2015.

She said: "I didn’t believe it for a while, I was very shocked. I was that excited, it was amazing and I just wanted to wrap myself up in bubble wrap."

Miss Nevinson was delighted that she was able to have a sibling for her son Kieran, nine.

She said: "I always wanted a brother or a sister for Kieran, and even more so when I realised I nearly left him and he would have been on his own. That just confirmed everything.

Miss Nevinson underwent careful monitoring at Furness General Hospital and St Mary's Hospital, Manchester. Before having a C-Section four weeks early at St Mary's.

"Alexa popped into the world as a little miracle. She is perfect. She is gorgeous, a little angel.

"And Kieran is my rock, my absolute best friend. He is amazing and makes me so so proud. He has gone through this with me and he really has.

"The support from my mum and dad, Steph and Chris, and my family and friends has been amazing."

Championing her NHS heroes, Miss Nevinson said: "I have had the very best care and treatment. It has been outstanding, the NHS is amazing.

"I can’t thank them all enough, the care and nursing has been phenomenal in every hospital. They deserve medals."

Miss Nevinson said she is concentrating on "family and living life to the full".

There will also be more fundraising events to come.

Victoria Cash, a great friend of Miss Nevinson's said: "Sandy has done brilliantly to go through everything she has been through and come out where she is now. One it’s a miracle, and two she is such a strong person. We are all so proud of how strong she is and how well she is doing. It’s just amazing."