Life fight Leah gets black belt

A Black Country girl given little chance of survival after being born prematurely is still fighting fit 12 years on - and has proven it by gaining a black belt at karate.

Leah Maitland was given a one in four chance of survival after she was born seven weeks prematurely at Birmingham Women's Hospital.

Doctors accelerated the birth, scheduled to take place at Wordsley Hospital, after scans on her mother Wendy Maitland, revealed excess fluid.

Leah weighed 6lb 14 ozs at birth but went down to 5lb 8ozs after the fluid had been drained away.

Her father, Mark, said doctors told the family she had little or no chance of survival if the fluid was not removed.

Medical staff said she only had a one in four chance of survival, but after two weeks in the special baby care unit she was able to leave.

And this week proud mother Wendy shed a tear after her little girl completed her remarkable fight by claiming a black belt in karate at the age of just 12.

After three-and-a-half-years of training Leah, of Brookbank Road, Lower Gornal, showed off her skills at a 40-minute test at the weekend to gain the belt.

Mother Wendy said everyone in the family was proud of her. "When she went for it she was so nervous and excited," she said.

"We're over the moon for her obviously because she worked really hard for it. When she was born the doctors basically said she had no chance but since then she has had no problems at all. Now she divides her time between karate and football."

Leah, who studied at Maidensbridge Primary and is now at Kingswinford School, hasplayed football for West Bromwich Albion under 12s side and is a regular for Kewford Eagles FC.

By Wayne Beese