A BRADFORD couple are celebrating another little “miracle” after defying medical odds to have their second baby.

Last year the Telegraph & Argus told how Gideon Yobo, 32, and his wife Blessing, 23, brought home their first son Caleb in time for Easter after doctors warned the tot might not survive beyond 14 weeks in the womb and advised them to consider a termination.

But last week Blessing – who has problems with her kidneys as well as lupus, an incurable illness which affects her immune system – gave birth to their second son, Joel-Gideon, at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

“Lots of people were encouraged by our miracle story last year so we wanted to share our good news with everyone again,” said Mrs Yobo. “We have been blessed with a second miracle which shows it wasn’t a fluke or just good luck last time, we believe we have been truly blessed by God and He wanted to do it again.”

The couple who live in Redbrook Way, Heaton, were able to take Joel-Gideon home for the weekend so he could start to get to know his big brother Caleb.

“The doctors were baffled when Caleb arrived safely and now we’ve done it again. Caleb’s face lit up when he met his little brother for the first time, there was a special connection straight away,” said Mrs Yobo.

Joel-Gideon was born by elective caesarean after a problem-free pregnancy with no flare-ups of lupus that could have put both the unborn baby and Mrs Yobo’s health at serious risk.

Doctors had warned against Mrs Yobo falling pregnant due to her lupus.

She had spells of being very ill during her first pregnancy but apart from blood pressure she stayed clear of any complications and her lupus remained in remission.

Mrs Yobo said: “The doctors looked at me as if I was crazy when I got pregnant the second time!”

National charity Lupus UK said while it did not advise high-risk pregnancies for people with active lupus, the Yobos’ story was wonderful to hear.

Mr Yobo, a project manager, is the brother of former Premier League footballer and Nigerian international Joseph Yobo. The couple are members of the El-Shaddai International Christian Centre, at Restoration House on Bowling Old Lane.

At ten weeks with Caleb, Mrs Yobo was admitted to hospital and the couple were told they should consider terminating the pregnancy as consultants thought the baby would not survive beyond 14 weeks.

Mr Yobo said: “We put our trust and faith in God. It’s not just down to us or for us to take the credit, it’s him as well.”

Doctors have given Joel-Gideon a clean bill of health.

Lupus UK said women whose disease was active when they became pregnant ran the risk of suffering greater problems during pregnancy, and were more likely to need additional drug therapy as the disease could affect the development of the baby, as well as making the mother unwell.

Experts advise that potential mothers have their Lupus under control for at least six months before trying to become pregnant.