Miarose Greenhow will today (Thurs) receive the ultimate early Christmas present, when mum Jaime tells her she will swim with a mermaid.
It is a childhood dream of cystic fibrosis sufferer Miarose, 12. She is constantly in and out of Great Ormond Street Hospital and her life is at risk even if she catches a cold.
St Mary Magdalene Academy pupil Miarose, of Essex Road, is a keen swimmer and will take to the pool with mermaid hire artist Samantha Siren early next month.
Jaime, 34, said: “Out of nowhere last year, Miarose said she wanted a mermaid swimming costume. I had one made for her and she wore it on holiday in the Isle of Wight. She’s always wanted to swim with mermaids. Samantha’s doing it for free and it’ll be amazing.
“Miarose doesn’t demand a hoverboard or PlayStation. She’s grateful for the littlest things so she’ll be over the moon.”
Miarose was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis eight weeks after birth. Jaime recalled: “She was born healthy at 8lbs and that went down to 4lbs. She was diagnosed and it was a very frightening time for me as a young mum.
“The more I learned, the more it scared me. She won’t be alive at my age.
“One symptom is diabetes, and it’s very hard to control her sugar levels. She’s tied up to her feed from 8pm-8am and that pumps 5,000 calories into her, because she has no appetite.
“Miarose puts people like me to shame. I might think I’m having a bad day, or complain about a headache. But I just look at her and know it’s nothing compared to what she experiences. Despite everything she goes through on a daily basis, she’s such a happy girl.”
The proud mum added: “She’s doing very well at school. In the curriculum they learn about cystic fibrosis and that helps people understand exactly what Miarose goes through.
“She gets breathless very quickly, but she’s still able to do everything a teenager does: go to the cinema with her friends, play football, go swimming etc.”
Mystical mermaid Samantha said: “I’ve wanted to do something with Great Ormond Street for such a long time, so I was really excited when Jaime got in touch.
“She asked how much I charge, but there was no chance of me taking her money. I can’t wait to meet Miarose.”
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