A MIRACULOUS baby girl is about to celebrate her first birthday after amazing doctors, who told her parents she would not last a night.

Tiny Poppy Longcake defied the odds and clung to life despite being born with an undetected liver tumour weighing more than two pounds.

Nurses gave parents Sophie and Steven only seconds with their newborn before rushing Poppy to intensive care and warning she would probably die.

Sophie, 28, of Kendal, said the pair sat in tearful silence while doctors spent 12 hours trying to stabilise their child in Furness General Hospital.

“She came out yellow, blown up like a ball,” she said. “Everyone came running in to help. It was horrendous – just horrific. I was given her to hold for ten seconds and then we were told she was very poorly and probably wouldn’t make it.

“I was inconsolable and that night my husband broke down. We didn’t know what to do.”

Poppy was transferred to Manchester Royal Infirmary, then to Leeds where, at just three weeks old, doctors operated to remove the tumour.

Her parents sat in a family room while surgeons performed the dangerous operation.

The procedure put Poppy under such strain, she needed two heart massages to keep it beating and was left with the brain disorder cerebral palsy.

However, their tiny daughter clung to life.

Sophie and Steven hoped Poppy’s fraction of remaining liver would survive enough to grow back, but it did not.

Medical staff suggested a risky liver transplant to give Poppy, who was less than five weeks old, a last chance of life.

Sophie and husband Steven, 32, an inspecting officer for Mardix, Kendal, agreed. They understood their only daughter would be one of the youngest babies to have the procedure.

Sophie said: “When we heard she was out and we could see her the relief was amazing, we just burst into tears.”

After four months in hospital, Poppy was finally allowed to go home and be with her parents and brother Hayden, four.

Despite needing daily physio, their sparky daughter now shows signs of development. She will be one on May 29.

Sophie said: “We’re planning the best party we’ve ever had.

“I want Poppy to experience as much of life as she can – she’s earned it.”

She will be christened on April 27, at Kendal Parish Church.

Nine family and friends will cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats in September, to raise money for Leeds Children’s Hospital.

Visit www.just giving.com/Poppysride.