A CO Down doctor who underwent a life-saving double lung transplant after giving birth has raised more than £4,000 walking 5,000 steps a day.
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 in March, Dr McCarroll decided to walk 5,000 steps a day throughout the month to raise funds for the Neonatal Unit at the Ulster Hospital.
The £4123 raised is being used to purchase 40 'joey bands’, which encourage skin-to-skin contact, along with 25 copies of ‘Caring For Your Baby in the Neonatal Unit: A Parents Handbook’.
Along with daughter Eve, Catherine and mum Michele Hutchinson recently made a visit to the neonatal unit to meet with neonatal breastfeeding lead, Cathy Flinn who had supported Catherine and her family during her time at the Ulster Hospital.
The remaining funds helped make the two parent's bedrooms on the ward feel more homely and comfortable.
Ms Flinn said: “The Ulster Hospital Neonatal Team are forever grateful to Catherine and her family for their extremely generous and thoughtful donations."
