A WOMAN who feared she would be unable to give birth has praised doctors at a Scottish fertility clinic who helped her become a mother to two healthy babies.

Lynette Mesko, 32, has suffered from severe endometriosis since she was in her teens.

The painful condition affects the lining of the uterus and is often associated with the risk of infertility.

After being told she was unlikely to conceive naturally, Mrs Mesko and husband Jaro were referred to Aberdeen University's Assisted Reproduction Unit at its Fertility Centre to undergo IVF treatment.

Not only did this lead to the birth of their daughter Emma, a year later the couple went on to conceive a son naturally while Lynette was on medication in preparation for a hysterectomy.

Mrs Mesko, from St Combs, near Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, said: "I longed for the day that I would have my own child.

"When doctors at the Aberdeen Fertility Centre advised IVF would be our only hope of conceiving we knew we had to try, although in our hearts we never allowed ourselves to hope it would be successful.

"Due to the severity of my endometriosis it was decided only one course of treatment should be tried before it was recommended I undergo a hysterectomy."

After learning she was pregnant, a scan at six weeks showed she was carrying twins.

However, one embryo was lost three weeks later and doctors advised the couple that there was a high chance the second could also miscarry.

Mrs Mesko said: "Throughout my pregnancy I never allowed myself to envisage actually becoming a mother, and held off buying anything for the baby.

"It was only when I held my daughter Emma in my arms that I think I truly let it sink in that my dream had been fulfilled."

Following the birth, Mrs Mesko returned to the medication that would prepare her body for the hysterectomy and stopped her IVF treatment.

It therefore came as a shock when she found she was pregnant again with her son Adam, shortly after Emma's first birthday.

Mrs Mesko said: "They are my miracle babies. To have conceived Emma was beyond my greatest hopes. So when I discovered we had become pregnant naturally, something I never believed would happen for us, to say we felt blessed is an understatement.

"The doctors suspect that the IVF treatment I underwent to conceive Emma kick-started my body's natural fertility cycle.

"Now my family is complete and I will forever be indebted to the Aberdeen Fertility Centre and the part the staff there played in bringing me the joy of the children I have in my life."

The couple will today hand over a donation of £4474 to the centre.

Mrs Mesko raised funds for the fertility centre by holding an IVF Charity Ball at the Tufted Duck hotel in St Combs in June this year, which received strong support from local businesses and oil companies.

She added: "The first kiss and cuddle with my children was the greatest blessing and gift I have experienced, and I hope this donation can go some way towards giving that gift to another."

Alison McTavish, nurse manager at the Assisted Reproduction Unit, which is part of the School of Medicine and Dentistry at Aberdeen University, said: "I have worked within the Unit since it started in 1989, and it is always a pleasure to see the happiness the treatment we provide brings to people.

"IVF is an effective option for many couples, which the Unit offers to both NHS patients and those who wish to self-fund their treatment. We are very grateful to Lynette, Jaro and their families who made the fundraising evening a success and for raising this wonderful amount of money."