Three years after she was separated from her Siamese twin sister in a British hospital, Gracie Attard has defied all odds and is today a bundle of joy for her doting Gozitan parents.

The exclusive story and progress of Gracie - who made world headlines after her devout Catholic parents went to the British courts to prevent doctors from separating the girls - was yesterday featured in News of the World.

The parents, Rina and Michael, have never given an interview to the local media in line with a deal they struck with News of the World and The Mail on Sunday. Now Magazine and Granada TV were also part of the deal.

Gracie was joined at the abdomen with Rosie and their spines were fused. Gracie was the stronger baby and her heart and lungs were keeping her sister alive. Doctors knew the strain would kill both girls and they had wanted to separate them to save the stronger twin at the expense of her sister's life.

However, the parents had protested that their daughter's fate should be left in the hands of God and they had tried their utmost to stop the operation. The British High Court ruled against them.

Today, the parents are thanking their lucky stars that the court did not rule in their favour and News of the World reported they are relishing every moment with their daughter.

Though it was initially thought Gracie would face serious complications, once separated, today she can run and walk like most children and she is an intelligent tot, bubbling with energy, the British newspaper reported.

When she was born, her legs were normal but at right angles to her body. The operation involved relocating her hips, closing her pelvis and breaking and resetting her legs.

Though Gracie knows she had a sister who died, she is not aware she was a Siamese twin and her parents were reported as saying that they are preparing themselves for the day they have to tell her the heart-rending story.

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