Avril Porter with her children Jorja, Jaxon and Nicole RMG61
Enniskillen woman, Avril Porter recently hosted a coffee evening at Enniskillen’s Cafe Nero as a way of saying ‘thank you’ to the Children’s Heartbeat Trust.
When Avril was pregnant with her daughter Nicole, it became evident that Nicole would be born with a heart condition. Throughout Nicole’s illness, the Children’s Heartbeat Trust offered support and facilities for Nicole and her parents Paul and Avril.
“The event went well, it was organised in a rush but from selling the raffle tickets, everyone was really interested and it did get a good response. The aim of the event was to thank the charity for all that they have done for us over the past eight years.
While Nicole was in hospital, we used the accommodation at the children’s hospital in Belfast. If I did not have that option, I would have had to travel up and down to Belfast everyday while Nicole was sick. They also supply equipment that families may need at home to help ensure that the children receive the best possible care.
They have really been a brilliant help to us. They just do everything they can to make things easier for the families and children. Any money that is raised go towards the families who need it,” said Avril Porter.
Since birth, Nicole spent a lot of time in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, and has received surgery three times. Two years on from her last operation, eight year old Nicole is back at school and thankfully is doing well.
“She is doing really well. It has been two years since her last operation, so fingers crossed there will be nothing more within the near future. At the minute, we are just taking each day as it comes because you are never going to know what will happen in the future,” added Avril.
Avril is also a member of the Fermanagh’s Children Heartbeat Trust Support Group which allows the families who used the charity to meet and offer support to each other.
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