The five-year-old Mulgrave girl spent the first seven months of her life in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Monash Medical Centre.

She was only 524 grams when she came into the world and suffered from erratic blood sugar levels and blood pressure.

Mother Angela Ntellas said she and husband Con were so worried for her welfare, they had Ella-Maree baptised in hospital when she was only two weeks old.

"We were told that she may not make it," Mrs Ntellas said. "It was heart wrenching."

During her pregnancy Mrs Ntellas suffered from pre-eclampsia, a condition that causes high-blood pressure, protein in the urine and abdominal pain.

She was closely monitored in hospital for 3? weeks before she found out that she had to have an emergency caesarean.

"Your body just goes into a complete shock," she said. "We had no idea what was around the corner for us.

"We didn't know if our daughter was going to be in hospital for a short time or a long time."

Ella-Maree was born on April 20, 2006, and spent her first four months on a ventilator.

"The machines were the ones that were keeping her going," Mrs Ntellas said.

She was at Ella-Maree's bedside every day and did not stray far in fear that she would get sick and be unable to visit her daughter.

Her husband would visit after work and on weekends.

"I would clock on any time between 5.30 and 6.30 in the morning. It was my job. I would stay there until about 3 or 3.30 and then go home."

After dinner, she would return to the hospital with Con about 5.30pm and stay until about 9.30pm.

But Mrs Ntellas never lost hope. "Hope is a little word but it has so much meaning" she said.

Her belief paid off.

Last Thursday, the feisty five-year-old started school. "I always knew she would make it to school," Mrs Ntellas said.

She had a message for other mothers of premature children.

"Don't give up hope. No matter how long or short your rollercoaster ride may be, never give up hope."

"Unless your baby says I can't do this any more, don't give up. "