Ceilidh smiles for the camera during her skydive tandem instructor Rod McCrory.
A young Derry mum has completed a daring 13,000 ft skydive in aid of neo natal units at two hospitals.
Ceilidh McDaid leaped from a Cessna single engine plane to raise funds for the units at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry and the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Ceilidh, from Knockena, Buncrana Road, carried out the feat to thank staff who cared for her baby daughter, Zara-May – her little miracle – who was born 14 and a half weeks early in Altnagelvin, weighing in at 1 lbs. 11 ozs – one of the 20th smallest babies every born in Northern Ireland.
Ceilidh recalled: “When she was born, I was told it would be hour by hour and then after 24 hours, day by day.”
Ceilidh with baby daughter Zara-May.
After four days Zara-May developed complications and was rushed to the Royal for lifesaving surgery.
Ceilidh said: “It came as a great shock. As I was not well myself I was not allowed to go as there was no bed for be at the Royal. It was about 12 hours later that I eventually was allowed to go. It was a nightmare – not knowing how she was doing.”
When Ceilidh did eventually got the Royal, she still had to wait several hours as doctors were fighting to save Zara-May’s life.
“When I did get to see her, she looked really ill and had more tubes and hooked up to more machines that ever she had before. It was really scary.”
Ceilidh was discharged after ten days but stayed by Zara-May’s bedside.
“I could not have done it without the support of my family and friends, they were very supportive. In fact, they were absolutely brilliant.”
Six weeks later, Zara-May – now weighing 2 lbs 1 ozs – was transferred back to Altnagelvin where she would remain under the watchful eye of medical staff for a further 10 weeks.
When she was allowed to go home – at 102 days old and weighing 5 lbs. 2 ozs – Ceilidh dancing for joy.
Ceilidh back on terra firma with her skydive tandem instructor Rod McCrory.
“I could not believe it. She had been through so much. But she was little fighter. It was a day I thought we would never see.”
Today, Zara-May is a healthy, bouncing 22-month-old who, according her doting mum, has “everyone running after her.”
The skydive is the latest fundraiser for the two neo natal units undertaken by Ceilidh.
Beforehand, she organised and took part in a six-mile sponsored walk and a “beauty day” among others.
However, the skydive was by far her most ambitious.
She explained: “It was something I always wanted to do and there is no better cause than the neo natal units which are desperately in need of equipment.”
Tags:
