WHEN Floriana Olivieri is stopped in the street by passers-by who admire her tot and remark how tiny she is - the county mum can only smile with pride.

For her daughter Mia Marshall may look like a newborn baby, but little do people realise she is in fact eight months old.

Mia was born three months premature at Worcestershire Royal Hospital - and would not be alive if it was not for the help of the neo-natal unit, which cares for special babies.

Now Floriana has told of her harrowing and emotional journey in a bid to raise money for the Evening News' Tiny Tots Appeal.

The campaign was launched on Wednesday, December 1, and has already received £4,000 from generous readers.

Every penny raised will go directly towards buying a list of equipment the hospital needs to ensure more babies lives are saved.

And Floriana knows first-hand how vital that equipment is.

On Sunday, April 18, Floriana was at her home in Drake Crescent, Kidderminster, and noticed things were amiss.

"I was leaking water but I thought at first that it was just the baby pushing on my bladder," said the 28-year-old full-time mum.

"My mum was going into hospital in Birmingham so I was more concerned about her than me.

"My mum went on her way and told me to call the hospital so I did just to please her, I honestly thought everything was OK.

"The midwife said I should come in and I said: 'OK, my car's outside so I'll drive in.'

"She said: 'I don't think that's a good idea, it sounds like your waters have broken and you could go into labour at any minute.'

"It was then I started to panic but I was put right at ease by the staff at Worcestershire Royal Hospital."

But Floriana didn't go into labour for another three days, and eventually had to have an emergency caesarean section.

"I didn't think a baby who was born three months early could survive and all I could think was that my baby was going to die."

Mia was born weighing just 2lbs 1oz and was taken immediately to the intensive care section of the neo-natal unit.

"I couldn't believe it, she looked beautiful, tiny, but perfectly formed.

"She was amazing from day one and really is my miracle baby."

Floriana and dad, civil engineer Grant Marshall, 28, found the staff at the unit were an "invaluable" support, especially as they had another daughter, six-year-old Bethany, to look after.

"The nurses kept our spirits up all the time and encouraged us to have a laugh and joke, which is good otherwise I would have cracked under the stress," said Floriana.

"They also helped me gain confidence in looking after Mia."

Mia was in hospital for more than 12 weeks, but the care did not stop on the day she was strong enough to go home.

"The hospital gave us a special monitor that would trigger if Mia stopped breathing, which was really reassuring to have," said Floriana.

And the monitors are just some of the items on the hospital's "wish list" of equipment needed to save the lives of more premature babies.

Now Mia is growing into a healthy baby - and weighs 13lbs 12oz.

Floriana said: "I can't emphasise enough how much donations to this appeal will be appreciated by the staff and parents like me."