Tiny Zara Heath survived a five blood transfusions before she was even born.

Her mother, Lea, from North Tyneside, suffers from the rare disorder thrombocytopenia which stops her blood clotting properly.

It meant that Zara's blood was incompatible with hers in the womb and doctors were forced to perform the delicate transfusions to keep her alive.

To add to the risks, Ms Heath developed the condition pre-eclampsia which increased her blood pressure to dangerously high levels.

Ms Heath had already lost one child when the baby died at only one day old because of the disorder.

At 33 weeks, doctors were forced to carry out an emergency Caesarean section because they feared both mother and baby could die.

Zara was born weighing only 3lb, but she survived against all the odds and after seven weeks in an incubator her mother was allowed to take her home.

Ms Heath, 26, could not hide her joy as she cradled her daughter in her arms at home.

She said: "She's my little miracle. It was tough and at times I feared I might lose her, but she survived."