A GIRL who was not expected to live past her first birthday after being born brain-damaged, celebrated her 16th birthday with a family party at home.
Emma Francis, of Curzon Place, Blackburn, defied doctors' predictions by battling through her early years.
She has to use a wheelchair and cannot walk or talk but her cousin Donna Jamieson said she has come on leaps and bounds in the last three years. She said: "She's been doing brilliantly. She has doubled her weight since her 13th birthday and responds to people with noises which we have learned to understand.
"She has every sort of light and sound equipment and toys so her mum is making her a new bedroom as her birthday present."
Emma, who used to attend Dame Evelyn Fox Special School, Blackburn, now attends Newfield Drive Special School.
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