Ordeal inspires fundraising

Twenty-month-old Summah Kirkland was only five-days-old when she was airlifted by RACQ CareFlight with respiratory complications. And she was airlifted a second time just one month later with a collapsed lung. After a dramatic start to life, Summah’s grandmother Jodi Crowley decided to turn a terrifying situation into a positive one by raising money for RACQ CareFlight.
The Sandy Creek Pub Pig Races in Warwick on Saturday, April 21, will be held thanks to little Summah and are expected to raise thousands of dollars.
This will be the second year the event has been held.
“The event raised $6500 last year, which was split up between a few different charities,” Ms Crowley said. “This year the funds will be split between CareFlight, Blue Care and Wheatvale School.”
“The event will run from 1pm and will feature the popular pig races, as well as a petting zoo and live entertainment.
“It’s all for a fantastic cause, as CareFlight helped our family in their time of need.”
At just five-days-old, newborn baby Summah developed a serious virus that developed into bronchitis. Her illness was so severe that she required urgent airlifting from her home in Warwick to the Mater Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.
Then just one month later, Summah was once again airlifted for a collapsed lung.
“There are really no words to describe how we feel about CareFlight,” Ms Crowley said.
“The doctors, the nurses, the pilot are nothing but angels in our eyes. This was a terrifying time for our whole family but at the same time it was reassuring to know she was in perfect hands with CareFlight.”
“Summah is now 20-months-old and powering along beautifully. She is quite tiny considering what she’s been through but she is just perfect to us.
“We encourage everyone in the community to come and support The Sandy Creek Pub Pig Races in April because it’s for a great cause.
“We want to turn Summah’s scary ordeal into something much more positive and to help other people just like her.”
The Sandy Creek Pub is located at 345 Sandy Creek Road, Warwick. Please contact Jodi on 0434 317 984 for further details. Entry is just $10 per person or $25 for a family.