A dad has revealed how his baby daughter was brought back to life by her older sister blowing a raspberry on her belly.

Poppy Smith, two, suffered hypoxic brain damage on her second birthday and doctors warned her parents that her chances of survival were slim.

But she has defied expectations and nine weeks later, Poppy is crawling again and can even talk more than before.

Poppy Smith, two, was brought back to life by older sister Macey, 12, who blew a raspberry on her belly

Her devoted parents, designer Stephen, 34, and learning support assistant Amy, 31, from Barrow In Furness, Cumbria, say it's all down to that magical moment with her sister Macey, now 12.

Stephen said: 'Macey blew a raspberry on her belly and suddenly Poppy started laughing. We couldn't believe it.

'Now we firmly believe Poppy will walk and talk again, as she's been a fighter since the moment she was born.'

Devoted parents, designer Stephen, 34, and learning support assistant Amy, 31, from Barrow In Furness, Cumbria, say Poppy is making a remarkable recovery thanks to Macey

Poppy was diagnosed with Moebius syndrome, which means the muscles in her face don't work properly, after her parents noticed that she often dribbled her food. Pictured, Poppy with sister Macey

Although doctors warned that Poppy's development could be delayed and she may never walk or talk normally, she proved them wrong, hitting most of her milestones

On December 17, 2014, Poppy was born at 29 weeks, weighing just 2lb.

After spending three months on a neonatal ward, she was allowed home, weighing 4lb 6oz.

But her parents noticed that she often dribbled her food and she was diagnosed with Moebius syndrome - which means the muscles in her face don't work properly.

Although doctors warned that Poppy's development could be delayed and she may never walk or talk normally, she proved them wrong, hitting most of her milestones.

Stephen said: 'They said that she might not walk or talk, but she started walking at 15 months, which is quite average for a premature baby. It was amazing to see her doing all those things.

'We managed to get her off her feeding tube around her first birthday and throughout 2016, she was just getting better every day.'

She had a few hospital admissions, for respiratory problems, but doctors were really pleased with Poppy's progress, as she approached her second birthday in December 2016.

On December 17, 2014, Poppy was born at 29 weeks, weighing just 2lb. After spending three months on a neonatal ward, she was allowed home, weighing 4lb 6oz

Days before she turned two, mother Amy couldn't wake Poppy up and took her to Barrow In Furness General Hospital. They transferred her for more specialised treatment at Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital

Then, just days before she turned two, when her Amy went to wake her up, she couldn't get her to come round.

Stephen said: 'We could feel her heartbeat, but she was unresponsive. We knew there was something seriously wrong. She was breathing but she was sort of gasping for air.'

What is Moebius syndrome? Moebius syndrome is a rare neurological disorder where sufferers cannot use their facial muscles properly. They often cannot frown or smile. The disorder also affects people's ability to swallow and see. People with Moebius syndrome are usually born with a small chin and an unusually shaped tongue. The syndrome is not thought to be genetic. There is no cure for Moebius syndrome but sufferers' ability to see, speak and swallow can be treated. Advertisement

She was blue lighted to Barrow In Furness General Hospital, where they tried to stabilise her, before transferring her for more specialised treatment at Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

The next day, Poppy improved and so much she was taken off the ventilator.

But two days later, on her second birthday, her parents noticed something wasn't right.

'Her eyes were starting to roll to the back of her head,' said Stephen. 'A chest x-ray showed that her lungs were full of fluid and she had another respiratory arrest.

'That night she started to develop twitches and seizures. She was deteriorating fast.'

Two days later, an MRI scan revealed some devastating results.

Stephen added: 'When she came back from the scan, doctors took us into a side room and said she had severe hypoxic brain damage.

'I asked if she was going to walk or talk again, but they said they didn't even know if she was going to survive. When it started to sink it, it was heartbreaking.

An MRI scan showed he had severe hypoxic brain damage and Poppy was put back on a ventilator. Doctors said they didn't know if she was going to survive

The family, including Poppy's sisters Elisha, now 14, Macey and brother Alfie, 11, spent Christmas together in the hospital, thinking it could be Poppy's last

'They told us we had to wait and see, but it wasn't looking good. I just wanted them to tell me that she was going to be ok.'

Medics were able to get Poppy breathing on her own again, but she was still unresponsive.

On Christmas day, Poppy was moved to a High Dependency Unit and the whole family visited to wish her a happy Christmas

'She couldn't feel anything and wasn't responding to a torch being shone in her eyes,' Stephen said. 'We held her, but she was just staring right through us. I've never felt pain like that in my life. The heartache was unreal.'

The family, including Poppy's sisters Elisha, now 14, Macey and brother Alfie, 11, spent Christmas together in the hospital, thinking it could be Poppy's last.

Stephen explained: 'We went to midnight mass on Christmas Eve and lit candles for her. I asked the priest if he could come and give her a blessing.'

On Christmas day, Poppy was moved to a High Dependency Unit and the whole family visited to wish her a happy Christmas.

Stephen explained: 'That was the amazing moment when she laughed, as Macey blew a raspberry on her belly.

'It was astonishing. We found out afterwards that it wasn't uncommon for people in this state to show emotion, but to us it seemed like she was responding.

'Then there were little twitches on her arms and legs. Doctors said it could be spinal reflexes, but I felt like it was so much more.'

Doctors were baffled by Poppy's remarkable recovery and day by day, she slowly improved - learning to speak and crawl all over again.

Stephen said: 'We couldn't believe it. It's been just eight weeks. It's incredible. She's progressed so much.

'The doctors are baffled. They say that she shouldn't be doing what she is doing. They are so glad she is, but they didn't think she would. She's proving them all wrong.'

Eight weeks after she regained consciousness, Poppy learned to speak and crawl again

Poppy with her brother Alfie on holiday in Lanzarote in December 2015, a year before she suffered hypoxic brain damage

Poppy's family are trying to raise £6,000 to pay for two weeks of intense physio at the Cosmosuit Rehabilitation Unit in Italy to help Poppy return to normal

Now, the family are fundraising around £6,000 to pay for two weeks of intense physio at the Cosmosuit Rehabilitation Unit in Italy, as they believe they must work quickly to try to help Poppy return to normal.

'We want to get more physio for her earlier rather than later, because we think the sooner we do, the more of her mobility we can save.' said Stephen.

'Our hospital has been great, but it is small and they don't have the facilities to give her that sort of treatment. She only has one physio session a week.

'We are hoping that having it every day will help to improve her mobility.

'She is still a little bit shaky, but I think she will be able to walk on her own and she's already come so far. We just want to raise money to try and get her a bit more help and we don't want to waste any time.'

To donate money, visit Poppy's Go Fund Me page.