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Laura Brewer and Abingdon School pupil Dan Harris with Laura's twins Jackson and Maia

THE mother of IVF twins born two months prematurely has thanked Abingdon School pupils for raising more than £1,000 for Oxford's special care baby unit.

Film executive Laura Brewer, 44, gave birth to twins Maia and Jackson at the John Radcliffe Hospital on November 3, with Maia weighing 2lb 11oz and Jackson 3lb 7oz.

They needed round-the-clock care until Mrs Brewer and her husband Jon, 57, were allowed to take the twins home on Christmas morning.

"It was the perfect Christmas gift. Jon and I had been trying for a baby for a long time and it was our fifth IVF attempt," said Mrs Brewer, from Minster Lovell.

"We were desperately worried about the health of the twins after I gave birth at 28 weeks - they could not wake themselves up to breathe, so they were on monitors and the machines kept going off all the time.

"But the staff were fantastic and the care they gave the twins at the special care baby unit at the John Radcliffe was incomparable."

After the Brewers took the twins home, they met up with friends and neighbours Carol and David Harris and their son Dan, a pupil at Abingdon School.

The 17-year-old was so inspired by the twins' survival that he decided to donate the proceeds of the panto he had written to SSNAP (Support for the Sick Newborn and their Parents), the charity which raises funds for the special care baby unit.

The panto, Willy Wonka and the Temple of Doom - A-Lad-In Trouble, was performed at the school's Amey Hall last month and raised £1,150 for the charity.

Sixth-former Dan, who is studying English, History, Maths and Theatre Studies, said: "After talking to Laura, we all knew SSNAP was a wonderful cause. My tutor Patricia Henderson helped us with the play and housemaster David Franklin was in it.

"About 35 pupils were in the cast."

Mrs Brewer added: "I think it's a great effort by Dan and all the pupils at Abingdon School.

"I know their efforts will really be appreciated by all the staff at the special care baby unit."

Fifty per cent of premature babies suffer health problems. In the worst cases, babies can be born 17 weeks early weighing less than a bag of sugar.

Mrs Brewer added: "The twins are now thriving - they both weigh about 5lb and are keeping us on our toes."

8:06am Sunday 13th January 2008

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