A LITTLE girl born with 30 broken bones is continuing to beat the odds after doctors told her parents she probably wouldn’t survive birth.

Twenty-month-old Millie Simpson was born with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), or brittle bones.

She became the first baby born with OI at the Countess of Chester Hospital on January 24, 2011.

Mum Stevie, 23, and dad Tyler, 26, of Weaver Road, Ellesmere Port, was warned at her 36-week scan that Millie’s chances of survival were poor.

“Eight ribs were broken, her ribcage was deformed, she had a fractured skull and her legs were bowed due to fractures healing in the womb,” said Stevie.

“They offered termination right up to 40 weeks. They said there was a very small chance she would survive and she might only survive up to two weeks.”

The couple are now delighted Millie has been given a £2,000 lightweight titanium wheelchair, a £500 specialised highchair and a car seat worth £250 by The Brittle Bone Society.

Stevie and Tyler are also thrilled their other daughter, two-year-old Lottie, and Millie can at last play together.

They were initially told Millie had dwarfism before finding out that once she was born the slightest touch could break her bones.

The news threatened to break up the couple’s marriage as they struggled to come to terms with the news,  just three weeks before Millie was due.

“It tore us apart,” said Tyler.

Stevie said: “We thought it was the end for us. We didn’t speak to each other and we’d only been married since November 2010. I didn’t know what to do.”

They had twice-weekly counselling sessions with Dr Sara Brigham, a consultant in obstetrics at the Countess, and the couple chose to go through with Millie’s birth.

“We thought if there was ever a chance Millie was going to pull through, we’re the ones in control of that,” said Stevie.

“Anything from her breathing is a bonus, if we get a minute with her and can kiss and cuddle her. If we got an hour with her – amazing.”

Millie was 5lb 6oz when she was born on January 24, 2011.

Stevie said: “They said if she cried that’s a really good sign because it means she can use her lungs under her crushed ribs. And she did!”

“It could have gone the other way – we’re just thankful that it didn’t. It exceeded all our expectations.”

After the birth, the couple lived at Ronald McDonald House, next to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool while Tyler commuted to work at GrowHow at Ince.

The couple could not hold their baby for two weeks.

Stevie said: “We couldn’t wind her in case we broke her back.”

“She had reflux problems and didn’t feed well for months. We didn’t sleep for six months. We were a wreck.”

Millie broke a bone for the fourth time since birth at the weekend.

Tyler said: “The lightest touches to her body can break a bone. Other than that she’s so happy. She’s a little character.”

Millie is due to start preschool in April.

The couple are determined to repay the society’s generosity. On October 27 they will hold a fun day at The Groves Sports and Social Club in Ellesmere Port.  On December 15 there will also be a charity night at the club.

To support the Brittle Bone Society, call Stevie on 07557 045707.