A new baby always brings joy but for Aimee Knight and her partner Paul Cheeseman the arrival of their baby girl Willow Rose is extra special.

Just 13 months ago the couple were devastated whentheir first child, 19-week-old daughter Esme Willow, died.

Esme was born on August 2, 2007, with a hole in her diaphragm, underdeveloped lungs and her heart on the wrong side of her body.

She had two operations before losing her fight for life on December 13 that year.

Aimee and Paul will never forget Esme but their sadness has been eased with the birth of Willow, who was born at Medway Maritime Hospital on January 22 weighing 6lb 10oz.

Her name was chosen in memory of the sister she will never know.

Aimee, of Grove Road, Chatham, aid: “Willow was born four weeks early but she’s doing just fine.

“There was a danger that she could have had the same condition as Esme so we didn’t tell anyone I was pregnant until I had my 20-week scan and we were given the all clear.

"The scan was carried out the day before my birthday so it was the best birthday present ever.

“Willow is just like Esme in the way that she acts. She plays with her hands the same way Esme did and she looks at us the same way Esme used to. She’s perfect.”

After losing Esme, Aimee held a reunion for former pupils of Horsted Junior School in aid of the charity that allowed her to spend every precious moment with her baby.

Had it not been for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides free accommodation for the families of children who need in-patient care at hospitals and hospices, Aimee wouldn’t have been able to visit her daughter every day.

Aimee plans to raise more money for the charity in the future.