READING a story in The Hereford Times changed the lives of Herefordshire couple Emma and David Moreing. It helped lead to the birth of baby Joseph, the son they feared they would never have, writes LIZ WATKINS.

Their happiness bubbled over throughout the festive season as the six month old marvelled at the sights and sounds around him. His birth came about through modern science, his parents' determination, the skill of Midland Fertility Services and funding by Herefordshire Heath Authority.

Emma knew that blocked fallopian tubes meant she could not conceive naturally.

She and her husband, David, had been married for four years when their hopes were raised by a story in the HT about a special 'egg-sharing' scheme run by Midland Fertility Services of Aldridge in the West Midlands.

Overjoyed

Women like Emma can anonymously donate half their eggs to another woman who cannot produce her own, in return for heavily subsidised fertility treatment.

With the blessing of all concerned Emma and David, who live at Fownhope, decided to go for it.

MFS used a procedure called intracytoplasic sperm injection, more sophisticated than conventional IVF.

It involves introducing one healthy sperm into each egg using a glass needle as fine as a hair, rather than putting one egg with a whole batch of sperm into a test tube and allowing things to take their course, explained Sue Barlow, laboratory director at MFS.

The couple were overjoyed when they heard they were to become parents and Emma was happy to carry on working up to the birth. But the baby had other ideas.

He was keen to make a speedy entry into the world, and arrived 14 weeks early. Tiny Joseph David was born at Shrewsbury Royal Hospital on June 20, last year, weighing just 2lb 3oz.

There was no time to celebrate, Joseph was in intensive care and fighting for his life.

Emma said: "When we knew I was pregnant we were ecstatic. Then, when Joseph was born so prematurely, we were terrified he wouldn't make it. It was very scary."

Fortunately there was nothing wrong with Joseph, he was small because he came too soon. He put up a great fight for survival and at the end of August his proud parents took him home to Fownhope.

Emma added: "We were so emotional. He was tiny but perfectly formed and we were so happy and relieved.''

Joseph now weighs more than 13lbs and Christmas and New Year have been very special for the family. The baby had many little presents and a special bouncy chair and, though baffled by the noise and decorations, he was the star turn.

He has brought great joy to Emma and David and should they ever decide to try for a brother or sister for their very special baby they have two frozen embryos stored at Midland Fertility Services.