A couple were given the wedding gift of a lifetime after nurses helped make their newborn daughter a part of their wedding day.

New parents Amy and Alex Nixon from Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, were surprised by staff at James Cook University Hospital ’s neo-natal unit who set up a live stream of their daughter, Mia June Nixon, on an iPad as the couple made their way down the aisle on May 20.

Staff on the ward dressed Mia in a knitted dress and flower crown for the big day and decorated her incubator after she was born at just 24 weeks on May 2, weighing under 2lbs.

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The Northern Echo: Alex and Amy Nixon with baby Mia.Alex and Amy Nixon with baby Mia. (Image: AMY NIXON)

Speaking to The Northern Echo, mum Amy confessed that she “can’t put into words” how grateful she is to the staff at the James Cook hospital who made sure Mia was a part of her parents’ special day.

She said: “Walking down the aisle and seeing the iPad there, I genuinely thought it was a photograph of her. I looked away when I saw it as I knew I would start crying.

“But then, I looked back over and saw her hand move and that was when I realised they had fully live streamed the wedding so she could be a part of our day.”

Dad Alex told The Northern Echo that “there is no feeling like it” as he saw his daughter and had to “keep it together” for the remainder of the ceremony.

The new parents had originally planned to have the wedding of their dreams in Cyprus this September, but because Mia’s original due date was August, they made the decision to postpone the day.

Amy said: “We decided to get married in the May but of course she was also born by then so we were not going to go ahead with the wedding.

“It was too stressful and there was too much to do but our family and staff at the hospital told us we should go ahead and take some time for us. But, we had no idea of what they had put in place for us.”

The Northern Echo: Amy and Alex Nixon with baby Mia on the iPad.Amy and Alex Nixon with baby Mia on the iPad. (Image: AMY NIXON)

Due to health issues, Amy was shocked to find out she was pregnant in the autumn of last year after she believed she was infertile.

Then, after a turbulent pregnancy, mum to-be Amy was checked into hospital on April 28 and Mia was born five days later.

Amy said: “I was scared, I was nervous, but I was excited to see her. There was complications as I’d contracted an infection and she was a breach until I went into labour.

“I don’t think anyone had really processed it all until she was really here.”

Since she was born, Mia has been under the care of staff at James Cook and is expected to remain there until she can finally come home to her parents in August, who have admitted having their little girl come home is “all they talk about”.

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The Northern Echo: Part of the surprises for the happy couple gifted by the staff at James Cook.Part of the surprises for the happy couple gifted by the staff at James Cook. (Image: AMY NIXON)

But, despite how stressful the life-changing experience has been for Amy and Alex, they said they cannot express how grateful they feel to everyone at the James Cook Hospital who have looked after Mia.

Amy added: “The staff are absolute angels. I have never met people that are so caring and giving and will do whatever you need.

“They are just unbelievable, it’s more than a job to them.”

Looking to the future, Amy said the newlyweds already have intentions of flying to Cyprus to renew their vows with Mia who will be finally able to join her parents on the day.