INSPIRED #6

INTERNATIONA
Kirsty McNeil’s
youngest child Sonny
is a typical mischievous
six year old, and she
wouldn’t change him for
the world!
When Sonny was just
eight weeks old, Kirsty and
husband Rhos discovered
that he had a heart murmur
and that they needed to
take him to see a specialist
at Alder Hey.
On seeing the specialist
they were told the
devastating news that no
parent wants to hear, that
he had a heart condition
called Tetralogy of Fallots,
and at six months of age
Kirsty and Rhos took their
beautiful baby to Alder
Hey hospital where he had
open heart surgery.
Kirsty explained, “He was so
strong throughout the whole
process. Knowing the amazing
hands he was in with the
incredible nurses and doctors
making sure he had the best
care possible was what got me
and my husband through such a
tough time.”
“For 6 weeks after the operation
we had to be very gentle with
him and very careful with how
we held him and fed him when
all we wanted to do was hold him
tight and tell him how much we
loved him!”
Sonny has now fully recovered
but continues to visit Alder Hey
for his annual check-ups.
Inspired by the work of the
staff at Alder Hey, mum Kirsty
decided to give something
back and set about a variety
of challenges to raise as much
money as possible.
Four half marathons and a trek
on the Great Wall of China later,
Kirsty decided to take herself
well out of her comfort zone
and sign up for the Alder Hey
Vietnam to Cambodia cycle
challenge in October 2017.
Through fabulous scenic banana
and coconut plantations, rice
fields and river beds, Kirsty
battled through 420km of
buttock chafing 80% humidity
cheered on by the joyous local
people with a never ending
supply of smiles.
“The cycle challenge was
definitely the toughest, most
amazing experience of my life.
It pushed me to my limits, but
the fabulous group of people on
the challenge and the knowledge
that I was helping such a
fantastic cause got me through
the toughest days and to the
amazing finish at Angkor Wat.”
TO DATE KIRSTY HAS
RAISED AN INCREDIBLE
£15,000 FOR ALDER HEY
CHILDREN’S CHARITY.
HER NEXT CHALLENGE?
THE ALDER HEY
CHILDREN’S CHARITY
INCA TRAIL TREK IN 2019…
Despite his surgery
Sonny showed remarkable
resilience, and though he
had to stay in hospital for
six days post-surgery, he
set a record recovery time
for such a young baby!
26 International Challenges
“If I can repay Alder Hey an ounce of what they have given me and
my family I will do whatever I can to do so.” Sonny’s Mum, Kirsty