After eight years of failed fertility treatments a Staffordshire couple have finally become proud parents - and this weekend they will celebrate their daughter's birth with the Midland clinic that made it possible.
When Lola June Turley was born at Stafford General Hospital on July 10, 2006, she became Midland Fertility Services' 3,500th baby - and she will be a guest of honour at the centre's 19th birthday party on Saturday.
Marina and Lee Turley, of Norton Canes, Cannock, began trying to conceive after they married in August 1998, but after two years with no success they went to see their GP.
Hospital tests revealed Mr Turley, aged 37, had a problem with his sperm's motility and they would need fertility treatment to conceive.
From October 2002, the couple endured three egg retrievals, five embryo transfers, three negative pregnancy tests and a miscarriage of twins, before Mrs Turley gave birth to Lola.
Mrs Turley, aged 36, was admitted to Stafford General Hospital in May and, despite fears she was losing the baby, Lola was born at 36 weeks, weighing 6lbs 9oz.
She said: "We've been through so much and dealt with some real lows, but having Lola means everything to us and it hasn't put us off trying again.
"The staff at MFS were fantastic and helped us cope with everything we went through."
Dr Gillian Lockwood, the clinic's medical director, said: "Sometimes couples have a baby after just a single treat-ment cycle and others require more than one and experience heartache along the way.
"So we are delighted to celebrate the birth of Lola."
