The mum of twin babies who are believed to be the first in the UK born with Covid-19 has says she feels "blessed" as they prepare to celebrate their first Christmas together.
Sarah Curtis, 34, says celebrating the festive period with her family is the "greatest gift" she could ever ask for.
The twins were born 10 weeks early on 3 July, weighing just 3lbs. Sarah was devastated when doctors told her she tested positive for Covid-19 just days before giving birth to Kenna and Lissa, who also tested positive.
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They spent six weeks at West Cumberland Hospital where they were monitored before they could finally return home to their parents. Now five months old, the twins are easing into life at home and will be enjoying their first Christmas with their family!
The mum-of-five has gifted pendants for each of her children and the twins will also receive pendants, which she will give them when they are older.
Sarah said: "I was genuinely so afraid that I was going to lose them - it was so terrifying and paralysing.
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"I could have lost them, I could have died there in the hospital but we're here now looking forward to celebrating Christmas together as a family.
"I count every day the blessings that I've got them. They fill me with so much joy and you never get tired of every smile. I'm just grateful for them.
"I'm so grateful this Christmas for these kids. That we're all still here. We haven't lost anyone through Covid and we're all healthy.
"Being with my family, with my children, it's the greatest gift we could ever hope for.
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"This year has put everything in perspective for us and I couldn't be happier."
She added: "It's not what's around the tree but who is around the tree - and I'm so happy with who is around the tree."
On top of contracting Covid-19, Sarah had a difficult pregnancy as she suffered from twin to twin syndrome - a prenatal condition in which twins share unequal amounts of the placenta's blood supply, resulting in the two foetuses growing at different rates.
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Sarah had to travel 300 miles from West Cumberland Hospital to London on her own to get a laser surgery which would correct the issue. She was told it was likely she would lose one of the twins.
"It was a miracle that both twins survived," says Sarah. "The last week in the hospital felt like a prison sentence but thankfully the staff were just brilliant. Without them I don't know if I'd be here today, and I don't know if I'd have my two beautiful babies."
Sarah said she feels extremely grateful to be with her family in an emotional week for her and her husband Aaron, 33, as they lost their daughter Lottie to cot death just before Christmas in 2017.
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She said: "This is a hard week for us. The twins are the same age Lottie was when we lost her, so I just think a lot of people take their children for granted.
"We just smother them with love and enjoy every moment and I am just so happy to have them all here by my side."
Sarah will be cooking turkey dinner for Aaron and her son Roick, nine, daughter Marcey, seven and has invited her mum and sister round.
Featured Image Credit: SWNSTopics: Christmas, Life News, Mum, News, Life, Babies, Coronavirus