TWO-MONTH-OLD Ruby Mae Gadd was born five weeks early – but for her concerned parents that was the least of their worries.

While still in her mother's womb Ruby was diagnosed with a rare condition called gastroschisis, which meant that she was born with her intestines on the outside of her body.

Mum Kimberley Carter, aged 19, of Stanley Road, Hartshill, said: "When I went to the hospital for my scan and it turned out Ruby had gastroschisis I felt horrible.

"I just kept doing research online and listening to other people's stories. It's a condition that only affects one in 2,000 babies so they can't treat it here at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire and we had to travel to Nottingham."

Neither Kimberley nor her partner Terry Gadd, aged 24, can drive. Terry's mum Gina Gadd had to rush the expectant mother to Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham, in the early hours of July 11. At 6.45pm that day Kimberley gave birth to 4lb 3oz Ruby.

Later Ruby spent an hour in the operating theatre before recovering in intensive care.

Kimberley said: "I didn't really see Ruby when she was born because I had to have a C-section and was on a lot of drugs.

"I saw her the morning after and she just looked tiny, she had tubes coming out her nose and one right to her heart for the drip – I didn't even see the scar as it was covered by her nappy."

Since then blue-eyed Ruby has recovered in record time.

Hospital staff said it would take Ruby six to eight weeks to recover but after only three weeks and two days she and her proud parents were back at the family home.

Kimberley said: "Ruby's absolutely fine and is now the size of a normal newborn baby. I think she did really well to recover.

Now Kimberley and Terry have decided to enter their daughter into The Sentinel's Baby and Toddler of the Year competition.

Warehouse worker Terry said: "When Ruby was born she was very small and when I first saw her she didn't look real, her intestines were draped all around her.

"I'd feel proud if she won this competition because it would make everything worth it."

The last photo session for the competition took place at the Roebuck Shopping Centre, in Newcastle, on Saturday. The Sentinel will print the entries in a colour photo special on Tuesday, October 27.

The Baby and Toddler of the Year will win £1,000 and a trophy. The four category winners (0-9 months, 10-18 months, 19-36 months and 3-5 years) will each receive £500.