BABY Nicole Farrier is very special - and soon the whole country will be aware of the fact.

Eight-month-old Nicole was born just weeks after her mum, Elaine, underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from her bladder.

Their story will be told by the popular Sunday television programme Songs of Praise when it is broadcast from Skipton next month.

"It is a story of triumph over adversity," said Elaine, who lives in Skipton, and is a member of the town's Baptist Church. "The story has a happy ending as Nicole is a healthy baby, and I am fine."

The tumour was discovered when Elaine, accompanied by husband Derek, went for a routine scan when she was 20 weeks into her pregnancy.

She told the Herald: "We were really excited, but the scan showed a tumour in my bladder.

"Initially, we thought it could be dealt with after the baby was born, but a couple weeks later, we were told it was more serious than was first thought."

At 26 weeks pregnant, Elaine underwent surgery, with all the consequent risks.

"I was petrified, but my faith helped me to cope. My family and friends were wonderful," she said.

Shortly, after recovering from the operation, she and Derek moved to Skipton where they joined the congregation at the local Baptist Church. "Everyone was very supportive," recalled Elaine.

But her troubles were not over - she kept going into premature labour, and then had to endure a difficult birth before Nicole eventually arrived on July 17.

"She is a very special baby," said Elaine. "The doctors and nurses at Airedale and the Fisher Medical Centre were brilliant and I can't thank them enough."

The family are due to be filmed later this month, with the actual Songs of Praise service being recorded on Wednesday May 6. The programme will be broadcast on BBC1 Sunday May 17 at 6.55pm.

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