“I went to hospital expecting to be taking my new baby home – I had the car seat and everything ready – but not being able to use it for three months was heartbreaking.”

Those are the words of an inspirational mother who has cared for her disabled daughter since she was diagnosed with a chromosomal disorder soon after she was born.

In the last 15 years, Satnam Kaur has had to battle through bureaucracy, funding cuts and personal struggles to care for Gurpreet, who is now a heavily disabled teenager.

But she has managed to overcome several struggles and has now been nominated for an award by national disability charity Sense.

“I didn’t know anything was wrong when I was pregnant,” said Ms Kaur. “But when she was born the doctors struggled to stabilise her.

“She was flown to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in an incubator and they didn’t know if she would make it.

“At the time, nothing was going through my mind. Just adrenaline. I was trying to comprehend what was going on – it was all such a shock.

“You go to hospital and have everything ready. I had the car seat, but I couldn’t use it.”

Gurpreet was eventually diagnosed with the rare, genetic condition which causes severe physical and learning disabilities as well as complex health issues such as renal failure.

She was eventually transferred back to Watford General Hospital before being deemed fit enough to go home – three months after she was born.

But the challenges did not end there. Satnam had to step up to a steep learning curve and looking after a disabled child felt isolating.

When Gurpreet was three, Ms Kaur gave birth to daughter Amy, now 11, followed by son Ekraj, now 10, who are both unaffected by the condition.

She added: “It was really difficult. I had three children under 5 and all were in nappies. I didn’t have a carer, couldn’t get to mother and baby classes and had no friends.”

In her short life, Gurpreet has had 17 surgeries.

A few years later, a volunteer from charity Homestart came to spend once a week with the family and would take Gurpreet out to a special needs baby class.

Ms Kaur had to quit her job as an accountant and although she has tried to go back to work over the last few years, caring for Gurpreet left her too exhausted.

Last year, she spearheaded a campaign to save Nascot Lawn, a respite centre her disabled daughter relies on which was shut by the CCG.

She says she has been “honoured” to be nominated for the Sense award in the Carer of the Year category, where she was highly commended for her work on Nascot.

“I am so humbled and honoured to have been nominated and to even have been shortlisted,” she said.

“In the real essence Gurpreet, Amy and Ekraj are my pure inspiration.

“To see Gurpreet bravely battle each surgery and the sheer never ending courage and zest she has, has inspired me to give her every opportunity I can to fulfil her potential.

“I have no idea who nominated me but I am so touched by it.”