The story of Amy Ross, 17, and Lee Kirkham, 19, is all the more remarkable, because at the time Rihanna and Amy were born, Amy was homeless and living in Blackburn, and Lee was living in the Foyer in Morecambe, a housing and training project for young people.

At a very young age, the pair have had to learn life-saving skills, parenting skills and hard lessons in life, as one of their daughters has had to be given emergency resuscitation by Amy at home after she stopped breathing.

Mother Amy was born with only one fully formed hand, making the task of looking after two demanding twins all the more challenging.

She was bullied at school because of the physical disability resulting from her hand not developing properly in the womb.

However, she said: "My disability doesn't make any difference because I can still hold the twins together."

It was in February that Amy came to Morecambe from Blackburn to visit family and started getting stomach pains in the Arndale Centre.

She was rushed to hospital and Amy was the first baby to arrive, Rihanna following by caesarian section because she was a breech baby.

The twins were taken to the neo-natal unit of the Royal Lancaster Infirmary where they remained for months on life support systems.

Amy said: "I didn't see them for three hours after they were born. Lee, my mum and his mum Irene were supporting me and the nurses were so lovely.

"I spent three days in a wheelchair. I was scared to touch them, Rihanna was on life support.

"Gradually as the weeks went by I got used to changing their nappies and tubes.

"Rihanna was worse as she wasn't reacting to any of the antibiotics. Eventually she recovered.

"We always had to make a joke, otherwise we'd break down in tears.
"I don't think any parent should have to go what we've been through.
"The nurses have been so supportive, they even gave us furniture for the flat."

Since the twins came home they have had special monitors placed in their cots to alert Amy and Lee if they stop breathing.

At one point Rihanna saved her sister's life when she started crying and Amy discovered the other twin wasn't breathing.

Rihanna might have to have an operation as she still has a heart murmur.

Amy has had to resuscitate Rihanna when she stopped breathing outside the flat.

"I had to do 20 pushes on her chest and place my mouth over her nose and mouth and breathe for her," said Amy.

She said: "We almost had to get Rihanna christened in hospital because we didn't think she would survive.

"I used to pray every night for them to come home.

"I think we coped just as well as any other couple. Everyone judges us, some people look at us in disgust and it does upset me.

"I've been through so much to have these babies.

"Life without these two wouldn't be normal. They are the sunshine of our lives.

"I hope that the twins have a bigger, better future and be something they want to be.

"They are getting better every day."

Now the couple have a two-bedroomed flat on Kingsway in Heysham, and are looking forward to the future with their daughters.

Lee is trying to get a job so they don't have to rely on benefits to survive. They are planning to get married in January next year.

Amy said: "I can't imagine life without them now."

* If anyone can help Amy and Lee with equipment, toys or clothes for the twins, contact The Visitor editorial department, and we'll gladly pass on your details to the couple.