Lapland prize for a kind big sister

Published 23 Dec 2009 09:08

A REINDEER loving, caring five-year-old girl has been whisked off to Lapland to meet Santa as a special reward for her selfless attitude.

The once-in-a-lifetime trip to visit Father Christmas was a prize in a competition set up to find a child deserving of a special Christmas.

Little Eilidh Johnstone was picked after her mum nominated her for the way she has coped with a difficult year.

Eilidh's brother Reilly has been in and out of hospital since he was born last year with a rare medical condition.

Mum and dad, Carol and Craig, have been forced to devote a lot of their time caring for Reilly, and Eilidh has been nothing but understanding and supportive.

Indeed, the youngster has now decided when she grows up she wants to look after "broken babies" as a nurse in Yorkhill Hospital where her brother receives treatment.

So on Saturday Eilidh, whose favourite toy is a cuddly reindeer named Rebecca, and mum Carol jetted off for a private meeting with the big man in red.

They also enjoyed a ride on a snow mobile and a husky-pulled sled in the snow to the secret location of Santa's log cabin.

The competition was organised by the Reporter's sister radio station YOUR Radio and the Clyde Shopping Centre.

Dave Ross, YOUR Radio programme controller and DJ, picked the deserving Jamestown Primary pupil as the winner after reading mum Carol's nomination letter.

The breakfast show DJ broke the news to Eilidh and her mum live on air on Thursday morning and the pair jetted off on Saturday.

A delighted Carol, from Balloch, spoke to the Reporter before they set off to the Winter wonderland.

She said: "Dave broke it to us on air - she was skipping coming out the station and is now bouncing all over the place."

Carol explained how Eilidh has been a perfect sister to her little brother who suffers from Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula / Oesophageal Atresia, or TOF/OA for short, which left him unable to swallow after birth.

Within hours of being born Reilly was transferred to Yorkhill Hospital for emergency surgery to repair his oesophagus and trachea and spent his first two weeks in intensive care.

Since May this year Reilly has been admitted to Yorkhill a further four times for treatment and was admitted for emergency treatment on a further occasion when he got food lodged in his throat and could not clear it.

Carol is proud of the way Eilidh has handled her brother's situation.

She added: "As we have to be aware of Reilly's breathing patterns whilst he is eating he needs our full attention at meal times.

"As my husband works shifts this often means that it is only the children and I at home and Eilidh has to take a back seat whilst I deal with her little brother.

"She has had a lot to deal with since he was born, there have been some hard times and it has been a lot for her to understand."

After returning from the trip a tired Eilidh and Carol said they thoroughly enjoyed the amazing experience.

Dave Ross added: "We are just delighted at this time of year we can make Christmas special for her.

"She is a brilliant wee girl and a thoroughly deserving winner."

Dave and Carol would like to thank Clyde Shopping Centre whichfunded the trip to Lapland.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 22 Dec 09

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