Woman who doctors said should be left to die as a baby celebrates her 60th birthday

A woman whose parents were advised by medics to 'let her die' today urged others never to give up hope, after celebrating her 60th birthday.
Fiona Sanderson from Ashton, Preston has severe spina bifida and her parents were told to let her die as she wouldn't live past a week.Fiona Sanderson from Ashton, Preston has severe spina bifida and her parents were told to let her die as she wouldn't live past a week.
Fiona Sanderson from Ashton, Preston has severe spina bifida and her parents were told to let her die as she wouldn't live past a week.

Fiona Sanderson, who lives in Ashton, Preston, has spina bifida, a condition where the spine doesn’t develop properly.

Fiona’s condition was so extreme, doctors told her parents she wouldn’t survive a week and that it would be kinder to let her die by not feeding her.

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Sister Katrina, 49, who lives in Kirkham, said: “Doctors said Fiona would not live past a week and certainly not past the age of one. They then predicted that if she did survive, she would never walk, never get a job, never get married and never have children.

“However, Fiona has achieved all this and much more besides. She is an inspiration to everyone.”

Fiona, who has a son and a granddaughter, said: “I am a very stubborn person and if someone says I can’t do something then, by golly, I will do it.

“I would urge people to never give up hope and want to let people who have a child with a disability know that they can live a full life despite what the doctors might say.”