A MIRACLE baby who spent last December battling deadly meningitis and sepsis is to spend her first Christmas at home surrounded by loved ones after making an incredible recovery.

Baby Amelia Jean Norris-Hammond was rushed into Royal Blackburn Hospital on December 6 last year after becoming extremely agitated at home.

Nine lumbar punctures, various surgeries, 20 cannulas, ultrasounds, MRI scans, four x-rays and 12 weeks later, the four-month-old baby was finally given the all-clear.

Now her parents Laura Hammond, 25, and Nathan Norris, 29, from Burnley, have spoken out about their treacherous year including their fears they would never hold their baby girl again.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph, Miss Hammond said: “It was without a doubt the hardest thing we have ever been through. It was hit and miss as to whether or little girl would make it, and luckily she did.

“She was just four weeks old when she was first taken to hospital. From birth she had a slight eye infection but apart from that she was a perfectly healthy baby.

“The day Amelia first became ill started out like any other. We were totally unaware that our worst nightmare was about to happen.”

Amelia became grouchy in the afternoon and she wouldn’t settle or take her feed.

From that moment Miss Hammond ‘knew something wasn’t right’ with Amelia, who up until that point had been a happy, quiet baby.

Later that evening things got progressively worse, with Miss Hammond unable to wake Amelia for her feed. An ambulance was called – arriving six hours later – and the family were taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Miss Hammond said: “By this time Amelia had gone 14 hours before we managed to get her to take some milk, for a baby this is far too long.

“When we eventually got into the ambulance, they checked her over and everything was looking fine, heartrate, temperature, responses were all fine.”

However once at the hospital, doctors became concerned with the Amelia’s irritable and unsettled state. Her blood sugar levels were taken and gave a very high reading, prompting the baby to be rushed to the children’s urgent care unit, where she spent the night.

Miss Hammond said: “One doctor took her straight off us and rushed her for a lumbar puncture. This is what gave the doctor the suspicion of our worst nightmare.

“The fluid taken from her spine during the lumbar puncture for a normal result should be clear like water, but Amelia’s was very cloudy which is the first indication of meningitis.”

The family had to stay in Christmas all over Christmas and the New Year bar a couple of visits home to spend time with family.

However just when they thought their nightmare was coming to an end, Amelia’s condition took a turn for the worse.

Miss Hammond said: “Amelia was discharged on the 29th of December but just days later she became extremely poorly again.

“We rushed her straight back to the hospital. Her breathing became really shallow and at one point stopped.

“Being in a room when your daughter is so so poorly and suddenly stops breathing, even if it is only for a second, feels like the longest and scariest point of your entire life.”

It was later confirmed that the little girl’s meningitis had returned – only this time she had also contracted sepsis.

Amelia was transferred to Manchester Children’s Hospital where she awaited surgery.

The family then spent all of January and February in and out of hospital while Amelia underwent further surgeries to have lines fitted to feed her antibiotics.

Miss Hammond said: “After what felt the longest, agonising, most stressful and emotional three months of our lives, with constant hospital treatment, our beautiful warrior princess was finally free.

“On behalf of ourselves, our family and our baby we would just like to thank each and every nurse, doctor, student and ward staff at Blackburn hospital children’s unit for their dedication and work put into making Amelia better.

“We could not ask for a better team to treat our daughter as well as supporting us as a family in the most difficult time.”

The family are also keen to raise awareness of meningitis in infants, with Miss Hammond pressing the importance of recognising the less obvious symptoms.

She said: “It doesn’t always present itself in a rash like many people think, there are several other warning signs.”

You can find out more by visiting the family’s Facebook page, Amelia’s Journey: meningitis awareness.