A baby girl born weighing only half as much as a standard bag of sugar and facing the slimmest chance of survival is now thriving at home with her family in Fife.

Little Hope Fernie spent more than four months in neonatal care after arriving at just 22 weeks gestation - the UK average pregnancy which lasts 40 weeks.

She weighed just 511 grams at birth, and was at the very limit of what modern medicine can support.

Today, she is enjoying life at home in Glenrothes with parents, Shannon and Gary, and older siblings, Rome and Remy, and continuing to make progress every day.

Little Hope Fernie spent more than four months in neonatal care after arriving at just 22 weeks gestation (Pics: Contributed)

placeholder image — Little Hope Fernie spent more than four months in neonatal care after arriving at just 22 weeks gestation (Pics: Contributed)

Now the couple have been inspired to give something back to the health service that supported them through days filled with uncertainty, by launching their own business, Hope's Tiny Tapes, which produces oxygen tapes designed for babies and young children who need medical support.

Their ambition is to use the venture to raise funds and donate money to NHS Fife's Neonatal Unit, helping other families facing similarly difficult journeys.

Babies born as early as Hope face significant challenges and only a minority survive to leave hospital. Her journey home after 142 days in neonatal care, makes her story all the more remarkable.

Hope spent her first 85 days receiving specialist care in Glasgow. At this point Hope was well enough to be released back to the care of NHS Fife where staff at the Neonatal Unit at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy continued to support her and her family through the next stages of her recovery.

Hope and mum Shannon (Pics: Contributed)

Despite arriving in the world months earlier than expected, and facing challenges that come with extreme prematurity, Hope continued to show incredible strength and resilience, with staff on the unit describing Hope’s extraordinary progress since birth as "a miracle".

Shannon said: "When Hope was born, we didn't know what the future would hold. Every day felt like a milestone, and every small step forward was a reason to celebrate. The support we received from neonatal teams in Glasgow and at Victoria Hospital was incredible, and we'll always be grateful for everything they did for Hope and our family. "Bringing her home was a moment we had dreamed about for months. Starting Hope's Tiny Tapes is our way of giving something back and helping support the unit that cared for our daughter during the most challenging time of our lives."

Oxygen tapes for premature babies are specialised, skin-safe medical adhesives used to secure nasal cannulas - the tiny tubes that provide extra oxygen - to the baby's face.

These are hypoallergenic, latex-free, and highly breathable tapes that stretch to accommodate an infant's tiny, contoured face without restricting movement. They prevent the delicate tubing from shifting or rubbing against the skin, crucial for preventing pressure injuries on a premature baby's face.