Ashton family's fundraising mission for their baby girl

An Ashton family have organised a special fundraiser to raise vital funds for treatments and future tests for their baby girl.

The event will take place at Ashton Masonic Hall on Friday 30 June from 7pm onwards; a night of singing and dancing is to be expected, with casino tables and a raffle included too.

The Brewster family welcomed baby Bella into their lives on January 8 of this year.

Bella was born 12 weeks prematurely and showed a ‘true fighting spirit’ right from birth.

Sophie, Bella’s mum, said: “She did amazing on the Neonatal Intensive Care unit at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

"She spent eight weeks there and had all of the incredible nurses wrapped around her little finger.”

When Bella was finally discharged home ready to enjoy life with her parents and three older brothers, only a week passed before she was rushed back to hospital in an ambulance.

Her parents described her as ‘blue and intermittently stopping breathing’. After numerous tests, doctors diagnosed bronchitis.

But the following week the same thing happened and the family were again admitted via ambulance with no answers as to what was wrong with Bella.

Two days after being discharged, Sophie took Bella back into hospital as her right arm was twitching.

Within five minutes of arriving at the hospital, Bella had stopped breathing again and started to suffer seizures.

The doctors at ROH tried to stabilise Bella and she was eventually transferred to Manchester Children’s Hospital, where she remained on life support for a week. 

Bella’s parents said: “Our world was falling apart. After lots of tests, we were given the worst news any parent could possibly get – ‘your baby has absent myelin’.

“Being told that your baby may not be able to walk, talk or swallow is every parent's worst nightmare. And still we can’t comprehend what Bella has been through. 

“Her future is uncertain, but what is certain is that she has had the best care possible and has the biggest army behind her.

“As parents we will go to the end of the earth to make sure, we leave no stone unturned and are wanting a second opinion and another MRI scan when Bella is nine months old.

“Thank you to everyone for the donations, which helped when Bella was in hospital to allow me and Lee (Bella’s dad) to be able to sit with her and not worry about bills etc. 

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone’s prayers for Bella when she was in hospital. My girl is the most beautiful, strong, inspirational baby I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”

Tickets for the fundraising night on June 30 will cost £20 per adult, £10 for children over five and under-fives are free.

Contact Natalie Yates on 07794973993 to purchase your tickets.