QUADS from Bolton are to star in artwork at a hospital to help provide comfort to other families.

Bethany, Millie, Ellie and Lucy Holden needed special care at the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Saint Mary’s Hospital after being born prematurely at just 28 weeks.

The youngsters, from Kearsley, have been photographed over the past few months and the artwork is to be unveiled at the hospital tomorrow.

The project, which has taken 12 months to complete, was suggested after the unit moved in July 2009.

Families welcomed the state of the art equipment and that it was much bigger and brighter than in the old hospital. But staff soon realised that whilst the new unit babies from across the region were provided with the best possible care, the size and the clinical setting meant it was sometimes overwhelming to the families visiting it.

Gillian Holden, mother of the four girls who were conceived naturally at odds of 750,000 to one, said: “When we were there we never had time to think about surroundings, it was all about the babies and ensuring they had the best care.

“We have not seen any of the artwork so it will be a nice surprise for us.

They have pictures of them when they were born and their first birthday.”

The quads were born in January last year and all four suffered from chronic lung disease.

Ellie, in particular, has been extremely poorly and almost did not pull through, but Miss Holden said she is now doing well.

“She is still being tube fed and is on oxygen but comes off for a few hours a day. The staff won’t recognise her now, she has changed.”

The other three are now walking and are into everything.

Miss Holden, aged 37, added: “It is very stressful at times.

“Marc and I are not used to being in each others pockets 24/7.

“We are both looking after them full time, it would be impossible for one person.

“It is getting harder not easier.”