Gift that keeps on giving...

Miracle full blood exchange baby fronts Christmas donors appeal

- MARTIN BAGOT

A WOMAN who was one of the first full blood exchange patients has urged people to give the gift of life this Christmas.

Miracle baby Maggie Hackney was saved by the pioneering procedure to replace her blood in 1948, the year the NHS was founded.

Now 76, she said: "I will never be able to thank the NHS blood service enough for giving me a chance of survival as a newborn baby."

She is fronting an NHS appeal to build blood stocks ahead of the busy Christmas and new year period.