Ulster child fighting for life in US
AN Ulster toddler suffering from a rare form of epilepsy is fighting for her life in a US hospital.
Two-year-old Katie Maguire from Magherafelt was rushed to an intensive care unit in Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital last week with what her parents believed was swine flu.
Tests, however, revealed that Katie, who has been the focus of a massive nationwide campaign to fund her treatment in America, was suffering from pneumonia.
Her worried father Gary McCann, who has been keeping a bedside vigil with his partner Mekila Maguire, told the News Letter that she was in a "very serious" and "critical" condition.
"This has come as a real shock to us all," said Mr McCann.
"Katie had been making great progress with her treatment here in America, and things were really looking up for her, but now we are being told that her chances are 50-50.
"We are just hoping and praying that she pulls through this."
The alarm was raised last week when the toddler's temperature soared, coupled with a series of severe seizures.
Earlier this year, Mr McCann met Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to seek better care for his daughter, whose treatment in America for her rare condition has been funded by generous donations from across the country.
The family have been travelling to the US for three-month treatment periods for Katie, who also suffers from cerebral palsy.
"The support we have received for Katie, since she was born, has been overwhelming," said Mr McCann.
"This treatment is very expensive and we don't know what the hospital bill will be, but that is not something we can even think about right now.
"We just know how much people back home care about Katie and we would ask for their continued support at this very difficult time."
Boxing legend Ricky Hatton, known to his fans as the 'Hitman', was just one of a number of high-profile figures to back the fundraising campaign for little Katie.
Indeed, the online campaign www.keepbabykatieawake.com has drawn support and donations from across the UK.
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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