A CO DOWN doctor who underwent a life-saving double lung transplant after giving birth has been walking 5,000 steps a day to raise funds for the unit which helped care for her baby.
Catherine McCarroll (30), who works in obstetrics and gynaecology in the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, gave birth prematurely to baby daughter Eve at 34 weeks.
Prior to her pregnancy, the 30-year-old had a respiratory condition, which deteriorated ahead of her daughter's birth.
Following the birth, Dr McCarroll underwent an urgent double lung transplant at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne.
As part of her rehabilitation she has been exercising and to coincide with her daughter’s first birthday, Dr McCarroll decided to walk 5,000 steps a day during March to raise funds for the Neonatal Unit at the Ulster Hospital.
The money will be used to purchase 'joey bands’, which encourage skin-to-skin contact.
Dr McCarroll praised the support she and her husband Andi received from the hospital.
"They did so much for us, not only for Eve, but for us as a family," she said.
"I want to give something back to them as a thank you for the incredible help and support.
She said her walk was also to raise awareness of organ donation.
"I would not be here today if it wasn’t for the donor."
Cathy Flinn, neonatal infant feeding lead at the Ulster, said: "Catherine is such an amazing person. She contacted me within two weeks of her transplant saying she wanted to do this fundraiser. What an incredible fighting spirit."
