CUPPED in the palm of a hand, just two inches long and with its inside hanging out, most people would have given up on a newly born guinea pig.
But not Nikki Williams. Within 10 minutes of its birth she arrived at the Sundean Veterinary Clinic in Lydney and presented Rhian Williams with a life or death situation.
Rhian told the Review: "It was very fragile. The prognosis was poor but Nikki was prepared for us to give it a go. Not many people would have done that but it all ended happily."
Nikki, of Highfield Road, Lydney, breeds and shows guinea pigs and was determined to give her new arrival a chance of life.
"She was born with a very large umbilical hernia which, as I lifted her up, burst producing masses of intestine.
"I carried her in the palm of my hand to Sundean and within 10 minutes she was on the operating table. I would like to say a big 'thank-you' to Rhian for what in the cavy world can only be described as a miracle," said Nikki.
Ten days and a lot of care later, the little animal - named Spirit of Ecstacy - had recovered sufficiently to have the stitches removed and now it has pride of place among Nikki's collection.
So, why the name?
Nikki explained: " I had considered all the obvious ones such as Miracle and Angel but I wanted something very special. She is a silver texel guinea pig so I started thinking along the lines of silver shadow, Rolls Royce cars, and then I remembered the figurine on the front of the cars but I could not remember what she was called. Sundean phoned to tell me that as well!
"I'm sure Spirit of Ecstasy will go on to win many shows and live up to her name. She had that fighting spirit from the moment she was born and ecstasy goes only half way to describe my feelings of her progress."