BEATRICE Carr was never expected to reach her 14th birthday.

Bea, who lives with her mother Joanna Swindells Carr in Marston, Oxford, was taken to East Oxford hospice Helen House in September 2009 for end-of-life care.

An asthma attack at the age of 10 left her with a hypoxic brain injury, causing blindness and disabilities including curvature of the spine. And then her spinal chord was severed following corrective surgery. She was not expected to survive.

But when breathing support was removed, Bea kept breathing and tonight the part-time pupil at John Watson Special School in Wheatley celebrates her 16th birthday at Childish Things.

Ms Swindells Carr said: “We didn’t think this would ever happen.

“It’s wonderful for us and I hope it’s wonderful for her.”

She said that Bea was very excited about meeting Michael McIntyre backstage.

She said: “It seems so fitting to be celebrating her birthday with laughter and sharing it with Helen House, who have seen us through so many lows and highs.”