Tiny baby Sophie Richardson, whose weight dropped to just one pound, has proved that she is a real fighter.

Sophie was born 13 weeks early, weighing only one and a half pounds.

Now her parents, Lee and Jacqueline, both 27, of Writtle, are looking forward to taking her home soon.

Sophie has made excellent progress in the neo-natal unit at St John's Hospital, Chelmsford, and now weighs three and a half pounds.

Sophie was due to be born on March 19 this year, but was delivered by emergency caesarean section on December 18, when a check-up showed that Jacqueline's blood pressure was dangerously high.

She was rushed to Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, for intensive care and, after two and a half weeks, was brought back to St John's, to have special care in the neo-natal baby unit.

Jacqueline said: "When I first held her, she was so tiny it was frightening.

"Our worst moment was on Christmas Day. She had lost a third of her body weight and went down to just one pound. We could only hope and pray that she would pull through and there were so many other people praying and rooting for her.

"Sophie is a real little fighter and such a character. She is perfect -- our number one little girl."

Now Jacqueline and Lee are hoping that Sophie, their first baby, will be allowed out of hospital before Easter.

Tiny Sophie pictured in hospital.

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