A MOTHER who was told her twins wouldn’t make it through her pregnancy, is celebrating their 18th birthday today.

Sarah Prideaux’s sons Ethan and Elliott were born nine weeks premature in 1991 at theJohn Radcliffe Hospital.

The proud mum, of Southmoor, near Abingdon, had been told by doctors her foetuses had developed the rare Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome – a disease which affects the placenta.

She was even told to go home and expect to miscarriage because the twins were so ill.

But, 18 years on, Mrs Prideaux is organising a big family party, with the boys’ soldier stepdad Pete coming back from Afghanistan, where he is serving with Abingdon-based 4 Logistic Support Regiment.

She said: “When I had my 18-week scan, doctors told me Ethan would be brain damaged and Elliott would be born with no kidneys and bladder – and that if he survived the pregnancy he would die at birth.”

Her two sons arrived by caesarean section at 31 weeks. Ethan weighed 3lb 4oz and Elliott 2lb 4oz – and were monitored by the JR’s special care baby unit until they were five years-old.

However, since then, the only ailment the sporty boys have suffered from is asthma.

The 46-year-old mum said: “It’s a triple celebration. The boys are 18 and their stepdad has managed to get two weeks’ leave especially for their birthday.

“They will each get a birthday cake and we have paid for them to go on holiday with their friends to Turkey.”

About 50 family members from Devon and Somerset, will join the twins’ college friends in Southmoor for the celebration.

The twins, who are both studying a sports science degree at Abingdon College, said they were grateful to their mum for organising their party.

Ethan, who works at David Lloyd Leisure in Cowley, Oxford, said: “We can’t wait for our holiday, and are even more excited about our party.

“Mum has gone to a lot of effort. We are looking forward to seeing all our family and having a good time together.

“I am glad Elliott and I both pulled through when we were babies.”

Elliott, who works at a sports shop in Cowley, said: “It is unbelievable what mum went through. We are lucky to be here.”

Both have done voluntary work with disabled children.

Mrs Prideaux, who also has a 14 year-old daughter, Emma, said she owed a lot to the charity SSNAP – Support for the Sick Newborn and their Parents.

She said: “It was touch and go at times, and I felt dreadful.

“This syndrome only affects about one in 1,000 identical twins in this country.

“All I ever wanted was my own children and I felt so alone. I never want another woman to go through what I went through.

“ I can’t believe my boys are 18. It’s been very emotional. They know all about what happened.”