Katie Brown, 35, from West Yorkshire, had put on three stone in a few months. But because a pregnancy test came back negative, she assumed it was from eating too much. Twins Amy and Daniel were born on November 14 and, after putting on some weight, have been allowed home from hospital in time for Christmas. Mrs Brown said: 'People can't believe that I didn't know, but I didn't feel any kicking. It is brilliant and I am just glad we are home in time for Christmas.'

Meghan Hope Pacyna was only eight inches long and weighed less than a pound when she was born in July to René, 39, and Mark Pacyna from Schaumburg, Illinois. Today, after spending her first five months of life in the hospital, Meghan is finally going home for the holidays and doctors, as well as her parents, are calling her health a miracle.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: The woman, known only as 26-year-old Joanna, had a 23-hour operation in Poland which involved replacing 80 per cent of the skin on her face. She was severely deformed by neurofibromatosis – a genetic condition that causes benign tumours to grow along the nerves. Before the operation (left) she struggled to chew, swallow or talk and it is hoped the procedure (right), which was carried out just last week, will restore these functions.

Ryan Edwards, from Devizes, has Ellis-van Creveld syndrome - a rare bone condition that causes dwarfism, heart defects and the development of extra fingers and toes. His mother was advised to consider aborting him when he was diagnosed during a scan. She was also told he would probably never walk. His mother Natasha said: 'Ryan's a gift. His differences just make him all the more special. ‘I thought he would never walk, but then he just started, as if he decided it was easy. It was amazing.'

Frances Inglis, 61, killed Tom, 22, by injecting him with street heroin, bought for £200 from a dealer in London's King's Cross. In her mind it was a 'mercy killing'. But in the eyes of the law it was murder, and in January 2010 Frances Inglis was found guilty by majority verdict and sentenced to life, with a recommendation she serve at least nine years (reduced to five on appeal).

Philippa Evans reveals how the last days of her mother Audrey Cole, 77, were enhanced thanks to Sue Ryder hospice. 'It sounds bizarre, I know. But free from anguish, no longer distracted by pain, and cocooned in a place where she felt safe and secure, Mum was extraordinarily content - even though her life was ebbing away. It meant we could make every last moment together really count.'

Corporal Andrew Garthwaite, 26, from South Tyneside, can control the arm thanks to electrodes which pick up impulses from his brain (see graphic left). He had to have seven hours of intricate surgery to rewire his nervous system. Cpl Garthwaite (right) lost his right arm when a grenade exploded in Helmand Province in September 2010.

At her heaviest, Faye Attwood, 26, from Birmingham, weighed 24 stone after gorging on 12 packs of Wotsits and three large bars of chocolate bars just for breakfast. She had the £10,000 gastric band operation on the NHS and initially lost 7st, eventually slimming down to 12st. But complications with her gallbladder - which eventually led to it being removed - meant the band had to be loosened - and she has now gone back up to 20st.The mental health nurse said: 'It has been a horror story from the start and it has ruined by life. 'When overweight people haven’t had a gastric band, they think they are great and the best way to lose weight, but I want to tell people they are wrong. Just look what it has done to me.'

Rikki Baker (pictured with his wife, Alicia, and sons Eddie and George), from Exeter, went to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in July 2010 suffering from a severe ear ache, vomiting, dizziness, light intolerance and a fever. Rather than being seen by an A&E; doctor he was sent by the receptionist to see a nurse at the walk in clinic on the hospital site. The nurse diagnosed him with an outer ear infection when he actually had a more serious middle ear infection. As the condition was not properly treated, it became much more serious and he died of brain damage caused by blood poisoning as a result on an infection.

John van Walwyk, from Cambridge, has an hour-long routine of 14 different exercises, lifting weights up to 30kg and climbing 226 metres on the step machine. He says it's all down to a diet of spinach and Guinness to get enough protein for his bulging biceps. Mr van Walwyk, who lives with wife Marjorie, 78, said: 'We live in a sheltered complex and most of the people here are either using frames or walking sticks. I think in some cases that's because they do not exercise and if this encourages people to take up exercise I think it's worth it.'