Baby Mia needed 96 pints of blood as surgeons worked tirelessly to remove a huge growth that was larger than her head and weighed almost half as much as she did.

Miracle baby Mia Molyneux is doing well, thanks to her mother’s love and the dedication of her doctors and nurses.

Heartbroken mum Michaela, 20, was advised to consider ending her pregnancy after doctors discovered a melon-sized growth on her unborn baby’s face.

But she refused, determined to give her daughter every possible chance.

Just six days after Mia was born, surgeons helped her through a critical moment by removing a large cyst that was bigger than her head.

During a challenging nine-hour procedure, Mia received 96 PINTS of blood as she faced an extraordinary medical journey.

Now 20 weeks old, little Mia is safely home with her mum in Widnes, Cheshire.

An overjoyed Michaela said: “I was absolutely terrified when I found out Mia had a medical condition.

“When she was born, I fell in love with her instantly. When I looked at her, I saw my baby girl alive, not the growth.

“The operation to remove it was really risky, but the surgeons were amazing. I’m just so glad to have my little girl home with me at last.”

At 36 weeks pregnant, Michaela had an MRI that confirmed Mia had a venous-lymphatic malformation, a condition that can lead to large cysts.

A natural birth was considered too risky, so a caesarean was planned. Doctors carefully inserted a breathing tube into Mia’s throat before the umbilical cord was cut to help her breathe.

Eighteen doctors and nurses were present at Liverpool Women’s Hospital when the little girl was born.

Just three hours after arriving, Mia was transferred to intensive care at Alder Hey Hospital, where doctors closely monitored the large cyst.

Dr. Adam Donne, the paediatric surgeon who carried out the complex procedure, said: “This was an extremely rare and very challenging case.

“It is a wonderful example of doctors and nurses working together to help a newborn.”

Michaela said: “She looked very bruised and swollen.

“It was absolutely heartbreaking to see her and not be able to hold her until she was 15 days old.”

She added: “Mia will have scars for life, but it’s a small price to pay.

“When her bandages came off, I used to keep wrapping her in them because I worried about what people might think.

“Now I don’t. She’s been through so much, and I’m so proud of her.”