SPIRIT of Ecstasy, the little guinea pig which survived against all the odds when she was born with her inside hanging out, has given birth.
The remarkable story helped make Christmas for her owner Nikki Matthews, of Highfield Road, Lydney.
"Where this particular guinea pig is concerned nothing will ever surprise me," said Nikki.
Most people would have given up on the little animal when she was born last June. She was just two inches long and entered the world with a massive umbilical hernia which had burst, producing masses of intestine – she was literally born with her stomach outside her body.
But Nikki, who breeds and shows guinea pigs, rushed her to Lydney's Sundean Veterinary Clinic and presented Rhian Williams with a life or death situation.
Only 20 minutes after being born she was being operated on. Ten days later she had recovered well enough for the stitches to be removed.
Nikki explained: "Spirit defied medical logic to survive in the first place and now she's done it again! After such a terrible start to her life who would ever have imagined this could happen. She has given birth to three beautiful little girls."