PROUD mum Denise Jolley has no problems when she is woken in the middle of the night by her seven-month-old son Christopher - in fact she is overjoyed when it happens.

The 39-year-old dental nurse says every moment with her son is precious after suffering years of trauma and heartache during which she endured four miscarriages.

Denise's plight is a remarkable tale of the triumph of hope and determination over tragedy when despite blow after harrowing blow she refused to give up on her dream of a child.

Denise, of Colchester Drive, Farnworth, suffered the first of her nightmares more than 11-years-ago when she suffered her first miscarriage seven weeks into the pregnancy.

But she was overjoyed when following this she gave birth to daughter Melissa who is now 11-years-old.

Despite doting on Melissa, Denise yearned for another child and three years after her daughter's birth she and partner Tony Charleston, 38, decided to try again but again she miscarried after seven weeks.

And 16 months after that blow Denise became pregnant again but within weeks she felt the same terrible pains she had suffered before and miscarried again.

Denise, who was under the care of Women's Health Care department at the Royal Bolton Hospital admits that the third miscarriage could have easily ruined her life.

"There was a lot of questions like - why me?" she said. "It had taken over my life at this point and all I could think was baby, baby, baby.

"One of the problems was that I had never been given an explanation as to why this was happening and despite going through test after test at the hospital they all came up negative.

"I couldn't go out shopping because I would see people with babies all the time."

Early last year Denise became pregnant again but this time she carried the baby - William Robert - for more than 22 weeks before tests revealed genetic problems and the pregnancy was terminated.

"It was soul destroying," admitted Denise. "There was nothing we could do, we just felt so helpless. I know I am not unique but unless you have been through this type of trauma it is difficult to put the feelings into words."

While still struggling to come to terms with her latest loss in hospital, Denise had a meeting with consultant obstetrician Dr Karen Bancroft - who Denise now describes as her "lifeline".

"Dr Bancroft insisted on more tests and we finally discovered that there were anti-bodies in my blood that may have been affecting the pregnancies," she said.

So began an arduous course of treatment involving painful self-administered injections to rectify the problem. All the while Denise was struggling to get her life back on track through work and by her hobby of line dancing.

A regular with the Farnworth Shiloh Line Dancing Troupe she says her classmates and teacher Sharon Quinn helped her through her darkest days.

"They knew my problems and they were all there for me," she said. "Sharon used to put her arms round me and tell me everything was going to be alright, they were all fantastic."

Denise's mum Margaret added: "We were with Denise every step of the way but her father and I had toldz her that enough was enough. We had to be cautious all the time and even her sister Debra, who wanted another child did not go through with it for fear of what it would do to Denise."

So, when late last year Denise became pregnant again, it seemed like the whole of Farnworth held its breath.

She said that every hour of the pregnancy was fraught with problems through the injections and the constant fear that this would be her final chance.

Always under the watchful eye of Dr Bancroft, Denise was induced at 37 weeks, and was in full labour for just 30 minutes before baby Christopher made his appearance.

"He was blue when he came out and he made no sound," she said. "The doctors and nurses went to work on him and then suddenly he gave out a huge cry - it was the best sound I'd ever heard."

Seven months on Denise and her family, including all her line dancing friends, are overjoyed.

"Christopher is fantastic and I am very proud of him," she said. "I have showed him off to everyone and when he is old enough I am hoping he will also take part in line dancing, Sharon has agreed to show him some moves."

She added: "I can't really give advice to other people in my situation because every case is different but all I can say is never give up hope and if it is meant to be it will be."