An Uddingston mum who is retraining as a midwife inspired by the specialist medical care received by her youngest son has run a festive fundraising campaign to spread Christmas joy at the hospital where he was treated.
Nicole Stirrat has been collecting donations and gifts for the cleft palate clinic at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, where little Alex has had “life-changing” surgery, care and support since being born with the condition and Pierre Robin syndrome.
The mum and son handed over their collection of Christmas cheer alongside midwifery lecturer Sheona Brown as part of her annual charity fundraiser at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), where Nicole is a student.
Mum-of-two Nicole wanted to give back to the hospital clinic which took care of Alex and the family, and enlisted the help of her friends and fellow students who donated using a QR code to buy toys and essential items for children and their loved ones.
She said: “Alex has had a lot of operations, including a cleft palate repair when he was just nine months old, surgery for grommets, and a partial adenoidectomy. These procedures were needed for his development, but they were really challenging for all of us.
“The cleft team at Glasgow Children’s Hospital provided expert medical care but they also gave us emotional support that we couldn’t have managed without.
“From providing us with specialist bottles to offering a shoulder to lean on during tough times, the cleft team has been a lifeline for us and so many families – fundraising for the clinic is my way of giving back and helping ensure other families receive the same life-changing care we did.”
Moved by the specialist care and emotional support her family received, Nicole made the courageous decision to leave her established career in banking and finance to pursue midwifery and is now in her second year at UWS.
The 39-year-old said: “Balancing Alex’s medical needs with the long hours of my financial work became incredibly difficult, and I knew I needed a change. After 18 years in banking, I decided to leave my career to pursue midwifery because I wanted to do something that really made a difference.”
Midwifery lecturer Sheona called Nicole “an exceptional student” and said: “I am very honoured that we can pay back in her name and in recognition of the service that Alex received following his birth.
“It’s truly heartwarming to see the generosity and dedication of students like Nicole, who go above and beyond to support families in need – this annual fundraiser is about bringing a little joy to children and their loved ones during what can be a challenging time of year and Nicole’s personal story makes this even more special, and I’m so proud to stand alongside her and our team to deliver these gifts.”
Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity chief executive Kirsten Watson said: “We have such deep admiration for Nicole and are incredibly grateful for her generous support.
“The cleft team do fantastic work to help children from across Scotland like Alex, while supporting their families too.
“Nicole’s decision to pursue a career in healthcare is testament to the inspirational work that takes place at the children’s hospital, and we all wish her the very best in her studies at UWS and future career.”
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