The twins who lost two years of togetherness: Girl meets sister for first time a

Miss Ludbrook said: 'It was a big shock, but the pregnancy was very uneventful.

'Elizabeth was first born, weighing 2lb 15oz and Sophie was born a minute later weighing 3lb 11oz in July 2007. We were over the moon and everyone who saw them described them as "tiny but perfect".'

But when she was just three days old Elizabeth had problems feeding.

Tests revealed a diaphragmatic hernia  -  a hole allowing the stomach to grow into the chest cavity and stop the lungs developing properly.

Elizabeth underwent the first operation to repair the problem at just a week old.

However, she then developed a laryngeal cleft  -  a rare congenital defect where the oesophagus and windpipe don't form properly. It meant fluid leaked into her lungs every time she fed or was sick.

Doctors performed a number of operations, including a tracheostomy to create a permanent hole in her windpipe.

In June last year she had another operation on her stomach and was able to feed normally for the first time. Nine months later she was strong enough to go home.

Mr Rae and Miss Ludbrook have since raised 715 frances for the hospital.

(Edit:Ruby)