A mum-of-two swapped her banking career for midwifery after her son was born with a cleft palate. Nicole Stirrat’s youngest, Alex, faced significant challenges due to his cleft palate and Pierre Robin syndrome, affecting his hearing and development.
The Cleft Palate Clinic at Glasgow Children’s Hospital provided crucial support. Now 39, the Uddingston mum is studying midwifery at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), and was inspired to help others following her own experience, reports Glasgow Live.
Nicole shared: “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.
“Balancing his 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.”
Nicole aims to give back to the clinic instrumental in her son’s care. She expressed her gratitude, saying: “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.
“Fundraising for the clinic is my way of giving back and helping ensure other families receive the same life-changing care we did. 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.”
Driven by her experience Nicole, along with peers from the Midwifery course at UWS, has been disseminating a QR code to rally donations intended for the procurement of toys and necessary items for the children and their kin – all with a view to distributing these tokens of kindness just ahead of the festive Christmas period.
Kirsten Watson, CEO of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, 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.”
Nicole has been working tirelessly as part of a Christmas campaign organised by UWS midwifery lecturer Sheona Brown, who spearheads an annual charitable drive. Sheona said: “Nicole is an exceptional student. 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.
“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.”
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