A Bicester girl is celebrating the first birthday doctors predicted she would never see.

Victoria Dyer suffered brain damage following complications with her home birth.

She was rushed to the John Radciffe Hospital, Oxford, and was put on a life-support machine.

Her family was told there was no hope of a recovery and they eventually decided to turn off the equipment keeping her alive.

But against all odds, Victoria continued to live without the machine.

Today, the family, of Overstrand Close, are celebrating this special occasion. Mother Theresa Dyer said: "It was initially a huge thing to come to terms with. We really didn't know from one day to the next what was going to happen."

Even after being discharged from hospital, the couple were told Victoria would survive no longer than six weeks.

"For those six weeks we just existed," said Mrs Dyer. "When she went to sleep we watched her and when she was awake we watched her."

However, after Victoria had passed the six-week mark, the family decided to live as normal a life as possible.

Mrs Dyer said: "We decided we couldn't live like that any more. We were constantly afraid of her catching an infection and it was affecting the boys.

"We decided we all had to have a quality of life. We started going out again and having friends round and we also started taking Victoria out more and more.

"I think that has brought her on. Once we relaxed she became much happier."

Doctors now say Victoria, who has cerebral palsy, will live for another five to ten years.

Mr and Mrs Dyer, both 38, also have three sons, Daniel, ten, Ben, nine, and Luke, four.

Since last summer the family has been fundraising as a way of thanking the organisations which helped them look after Victoria. So far they have raised more than £4,500 which has been divided between Helen House Hospice and the special care baby unit at the JR.

Mrs Dyer said: "A lot of people have said 'I bet you'll be glad when this year is over', but we have had her 11 months more than we expected, and we have had a really good year.

"We don't want people to feel sorry for us. We have enjoyed her and now we appreciate things a lot more. Good things have come out of it. If anything the boys are stronger and more tolerant of others who are less fortunate than them.

"She is still here and she makes us all feel very humble. She is an absolute joy."

The family's is now fundraising for the Oxfordshire paediatric nurses who provide respite care to Victoria every week.

They have organised a disco at the Highfield Social Club, George Street, Bicester, on Saturday, January 26.

Tickets, costing £3 are available from A Barber Shop, Sheep Street, Bicester, or by calling Mr and Mrs Dyer on 01869 249327.