A Northern Irish doctor needed a double lung transplant due to complications after the premature birth of her daughter.
Doctor Catherine McCarroll gave birth to her daughter Eve prematurely at 34 weeks in the Ulster Hospital, but due to an existing lung condition started to develop breathing issues afterwards.
Urgently needing a double lung transplant she was transferred to a hospital in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in England where she underwent life-saving surgery.
Read more: Derry parents celebrate premature baby's first birthday with special donation
Thankfully this was a success and Catherine has now started on her road to recovery. She is looking to give back to those that helped her through such a difficult time.
During the month of March she walked 5,000 steps a day in aid of the neonatal unit at the Ulster Hospital. As part of her recovery she incorporated more exercise into her daily routine and decided to use it as an opportunity to do something good.
Catherine said: “As part of my recovery, I was encouraged to exercise, so I decided to raise some money to do something good for the Neonatal Unit after the care myself and my family received. In the month of March, which is also Eve’s birthday month, I walked a total of 5,000 steps a day.
"I wanted to celebrate being back together as a family after spending so many months in hospital after my double lung transplant surgery and I am just so grateful to everyone that followed my entire journey and to everyone that kindly donated.”
Catherine raised £4123 over the course of the month and recently visited the neonatal unit at the hospital to meet with the team and see how the funding was been used to help mothers and their babies.
She wanted her funds to support and encourage breastfeeding within the Neonatal Unit - a total of 40 ‘Joeybands’ were purchased, which help support safe skin-to-skin contact in the Neonatal setting as well as 25 copies of ‘Caring For Your Baby in the Neonatal Unit: A Parents Handbook’.
In order to make the two parents bedrooms on the ward feel more homely and comfortable, the remaining funds were used to purchase a Dyson fan, Echo Dots (to enable parents and babies alike to listen to soft, calming music), bedding, comfortable pillows, aromatherapy atomiser and oils and two beautiful prints in honour of Catherine, her husband Andi and Eve.
Neonatal Breastfeeding Lead, Cathy Flinn, who supported Catherine and her family during their time at the hospital, expressed her thanks saying: “The Ulster Hospital Neonatal Team are forever grateful to Catherine and her family for their extremely generous and thoughtful donations. All of their gifts will undoubtedly help so many babies and their families in what can be such a difficult time.
"Catherine is a true inspiration to us all!”
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