BIG DIFFERENCE; Tiny Lives charity celebrates success of the past year.

Byline: By KATY SIMPSON

THEY may only be small but each one has won a huge fight for life.

And staff from the special baby care unit, who helped them, were reunited with the children and their families at the Tiny Lives Christmas celebration yesterday.

The charity heads up fundraising for the baby care unit at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, which saves the lives of around 600 premature and sick babies every year.

More than 200 of the youngsters were treated to a party in the Bamburgh Suite at St James's Park, complete with a disco, magician and competitions.

Dancing, many of the older children proved just how far they have come since their traumatic start in life.

But for many parents, the heartache of almost losing their babies is still fresh.

It has been just over a year since Wendy Johnson, 43, of Walker, Newcastle, was rushed into hospital - 11 weeks before baby Ella Louise was due.

Wendy, who lives with partner Paul Tully, 44, said: "She was my first child, and I was really lucky to fall pregnant straight away at my age. She was due on Christmas Day, but she obviously didn't want to wait. My placenta had ruptured, and when I got to hospital they said straight away she had to come out.

"They said if we had left it 10 minutes longer to get to hospital, it would have been too late.

"They didn't just look after her life, they looked after mine too. I feel so lucky to have her," said Wendy, who raised over pounds 2,000 for Tiny Lives at a fundraiser last week at Rafferty's Bar in Walker, where she works.

For Chris Porter, 26, and Kyley Dodds, 23, of Blaydon, their hospital ordeal is still far from over. Ten-month-old twins Summer and Brooke were born at 24 weeks and both needed laser surgery on their eyes.

Brooke's health quickly improved, but Summer had to undergo another five operations, including heart surgery, a hernia operation and a tracheotomy procedure to help her breathe.

Doctors say she will need several more operations in her young life, and is expected to keep the tracheotomy in for a number of years.

Kyley said: "Summer and Brooke wouldn't be here if it wasn't for staff on special baby care unit."

Their ordeal is only too familiar for Joanna and Paul Reed of Jesmond, Newcastle, who attend the Tiny Lives party every year.

It always brings the memories flooding back, as they recall watching their twins Polly and Jake, now aged five, fight for life after being born prematurely at 29 weeks.

Paul said: "It's great to see them leading a normal life now. But when we come to the party and see other twins on oxygen, it reminds us how they used to be."

Tiny Lives fundraising manager Andrea Atkinson said: "We ask any baby born in the RVI special care unit to come back for the party.

"It's a great way for parents to speak to other parents, and use it as a support network.

"One mum with a one-year-old may see a four-year-old, for example, and be able to talk to the parents about how their child has progressed.

"And it's a wonderful opportunity for the nurses and doctors to see the patients they have helped."

CAPTION(S):

FUN: Twins Jake and Polly Reed, five, of Jesmond, have the time of their lives at the Tiny Lives party at St James's Park PICTURE: TONY HALL www.chroniclelive.co.uk/buyaphoto ref: 01385625; WHAT A SMILE: Ella Tully, 13 months, from Walker.; FIGHTERS: Summer, top, and Brooke Porter Dodds; LET'S DANCE: The party is in full swing for the youngsters