A toddler who managed to survive against the odds is facing another battle in her young life.

Bethanie Taylor weighed less than a bag of sugar when she was born 15 weeks prematurely in October 1999.

Despite her difficulties, the youngster managed to progress in leaps and bounds and celebrates her second birthday this weekend.

But doctors have discovered Bethanie was born with only one vocal cord that makes it impossible for her to speak.

The voice box needs two vocal cords to vibrate against each other to create the sound for speech.

Bethanie and her parents, Elizabeth and David, will meet specialists at Brighton's Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children in December, when they hope to learn more about what can be done.

Elizabeth, 30, said: "Apparently, it is quite a rare condition and the doctors have never seen a case before but they are looking into what can be done.

"They are hoping they may be able to carry out some sort of operation that may help her make some sort of sound, or things may change as she gets older.

"She was always a quiet baby and we put that down to everything she had been through but this makes things clearer.

"It is a real shame this has happened on top of everything else.

"We are hopeful something can be done but, in the meantime, we are beginning to try to teach her some basic sign language so she can communicate."

Bethanie weighed just under a pound at birth and doctors at Queen Charlotte Hospital in London gave her 24 hours to live.

She was born by emergency Caesarean after Elizabeth was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a condition characterised by high blood pressure and kidney failure.

Bethanie stopped growing two weeks before she was born.

She was kept in special care baby units in London, Brighton and Worthing for almost four months before she was able to go home.

She now goes back to hospital for regular check-ups but apart from lung problems, which mean she is hooked up to oxygen overnight, she is progressing well.

Bethanie is a lively, happy two-year-old who is running around and into everything.

Elizabeth, of Browning Road, Worthing, said: "She has hit the terrible twos slightly early and certainly knows how to get her feelings across, despite not being able to talk.

"She gets on brilliantly with her older sister, Hayley, and they have a great time together.

"Bethanie is still small for her age. Her clothes size ranges from three months to nine months but she is doing well.

"Her eyesight and her hearing appear to be fine."

Bethanie spends two mornings a week at the Camelia Botnar special nursery in Worthing.

The family is planning to celebrate Bethanie's birthday with a trip to Legoland, followed by a party.

Elizabeth said: "We couldn't imagine life without her."