A baby given only a 50 per cent chance of survival has been born happy and healthy.

Mum Sarah Rollinson underwent pioneering surgery at London's Kings College Hospital after her unborn baby was diagnosed as having a CDH (congenital diaphragmatic hernia).

CDH is a problem often diagnosed in utero and affects about one in 2,500 babies.

A hole in the diaphragm lets the internal organs interfere with the lungs but a procedure at 26 weeks saw a balloon inserted into her chest.

"We had the balloon removed at Kings College at the start of March and on the 13th March baby Hope Rollings was born five weeks early at a healthy weight of five pounds 15oz," said a proud Sarah.

Hope was rushed straight to NICU and after just four days went for an operation on her diapragm.

The operation was a success but she has had to have a synthetic patch inserted into her chest as she did not have a diaphragm muscle.

This means she will need another operation when she is older but at the moment she is doing well and her family are very proud of their precious new addition.