“All we wished for was that our baby girl would wake up and still be herself”

A 9-year-old girl from Salford has survived a miracle, life-saving brain surgery after suffering a brain aneurysm.

In March 2022, Daisy began complaining to her parents about a headache. Shortly after she collapsed in front of her mum, Lucy Doran, 30, and her 6-year-old brother, Leo Doran.

The aneurysm caused paralysis down the left side of Daisy’s body.

Daisy was then cared for at Manchester Children’s Hospital where she had the brain surgery in order to save her life.

After months at the hospital, Daisy and her family were then moved to the Ronald McDonald House, a charity accommodation for families with sick children who still need around-the-clock care.

With ongoing treatment and care, Daisy began to regain her movement and started to strengthen her leg muscles. Amazingly, two months later, Daisy became a walking miracle with the help of a leg brace, after it was thought she might never be able to walk again.

Daisy’s mum, Lucy, praises Ronald McDonald House: “It’s such an amazing charity that provides families with a home away from home allowing you to be close to your poorly child and the fact that Leo could stay too meant we could all be together as much as possible.”

The sudden shock and life changing event in Daisy’s life meant that the family needed all the help and support they could get.

The community in Salford gathered around the family offering donations towards Physiotherapy and creating fundraiser events known as “Daisy’s Day” along with charity football games.

Lucy explained: “There are so many people who have donated to the go fund me page for Daisy and supported us on Daisy’s fundraiser day.

“The list is endless and as a family we will never forget the kindness and generosity shown by not only our friends and family, but also complete strangers who were touched by Daisy’s story.”

One complete stranger who heard of Daisy’s story through social media and wanted to contribute in the best way, was Heavy Weight Champion Boxer, Tyson Fury also known as ‘The Gypsy King’.

Tyson reached out to Daisy and her family by sending them a video on Facebook, he offered to sign one of the boxing gloves also signed by Champion Boxer, Muhammed Ali, to be sold in the auction at Daisy’s fundraiser event.

In the video Tyson said, “I hope that you all dig really deep to help and support Daisy, I will be putting down £1000 towards her treatment as well as the glove, so that’s the number to beat!”

The Brain Aneurysm Foundation states: “Researchers have estimated the overall mortality rate for children with ruptured aneurysms ranges from 13-34 per cent.

Of those whose survive, about 60 per cent suffer permanent neurological deficit.”

Whilst Daisy is on the road to recovery, she still requires the use of a leg brace and the occasional use of a wheelchair.

Daisy had her final post-operation angiogram in November and was told that any Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) had been completely removed.

Daisy’s dad, Fintan Doran, aged 33-years-old, described the news as: “Such a relief, it had been hanging over our heads for so long so it’s a relief to finally have that confirmed. We can just concentrate on physiotherapy now which she is absolutely smashing!”

Learn more about Brain Aneurysms and what you can do to help here.

To help keep families with poorly children together, visit the Ronald McDonald House Charity Foundation at RMHC.org.uk.