Emily and Megan Wright. Picture by Patrick Barrie/BBC

Emily was one of twin girls who were born in December 1995.

"I love them to bits, I just couldn't imagine them not being there," their mother, Rose told the programme.

She was just 25 weeks pregnant when she gave birth. She had been in labour for a week.

Emily was the first to be born, while her sister Megan was a breach birth. Both girls were badly bruised during the birth.

Her mother Rose, said: "You couldn't believe that they were so tiny. That they were just these little grey scraps in the middle of a huge incubator.

"I think the entire time they were actually in hospital I was sort of partially detached from them. I wouldn't say I didn't care for them but I didn't really let them get under my skin."

Big smile

There were days when you felt like kicking a hole in the wall, but they were always loving Rose Wright

However by the time the twins were two and a half, their mother knew that Emily had suffered brain damage and Megan had celebral palsy.

It was a tough challenge for Rose, but one that she was willing to face.

She said: "There were days when you felt like giving up. There were days when you felt like kicking a hole in the wall, but they were always loving.

"They would always give you a big smile and no matter how bad it got there was always a slight improvement in something."

Rose already knows that Megan will never be able to live an independent life, and it does cause her some concern.

She said: "Inevitably there is going to be a time when she is simply going to be too big and too heavy to physically manhandle her or move her around, and that she's going to have to be found some sort of care home."

Panorama: Miracle baby grows up is broadcast on BBC One on Wednesday, 22 September, 2004 at 21:00 BST.