Kerry's smile lights up appeal

THE spirit of Lossiemouth youngster Kerry Stewart lived on when her heart and liver helped give the gift of life to two other desperately ill children.

Now, 13 years after her tragic death following a brain haemorrage, Kerry’s memory will support other children in Moray in need of hospital care.

Kerry (7) collapsed during a visit to Lossiemouth Swimming Pool in 1999. Within 48 hours her parents Eleanor and Johnnie were given the devastating news that she was brain dead.

They were given some comfort with the thought that heart and liver transplants using Kerry’s organs provided hope for a 12-year-old girl and a six-month-old baby.

Kerry, a pupil at St Gerardine Primary, had been treated previously at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin after being born with a hair lip.

The youngster died in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary the year before the ARCHIE Foundation was launched to support a fund-raising appeal to build a new sick kids hospital in Aberdeen.

Her parents became keen supporters of the foundation and raised £3,000 for the charity through a memorial concert in Lossiemouth.

Three special songs were played at her funeral and mum Eleanor wrote to the three artists to ask if they would support her fund-raising efforts.

"Kerry really liked the song ‘Circle of Life’ by Elton John which was in ‘The Lion King’. Elton was the only one who responded to me," said Eleanor, who now lives in Kinloss.

The star was on tour at the time and he sent two signed tour t-shirts.

"The Northern Scot carried a story about the t-shirts at the time but for one reason or another I felt the opportunity hadn’t arisen to use them."

As time went by, the chance to use the t-shirts in a meaningful way never materialised but Eleanor, who has three grown up children from a previous marriage, held on to them in the belief they could still be used in the future.

"When I saw the story in ‘The Northern Scot’ about the Moray Friends of ARCHIE appeal I thought this was perfect."

The t-shirts come complete with a letter signed on behalf of Elton John, supporting Eleanor’s fund-raising efforts at the time.

Kerry’s parents were guests at the official opening of the new Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital after the ARCHIE Foundation raised a staggering £5 million towards the £20m cost of the new hospital.

The donation from the Stewart family helped buy a specialist trolley and dental anaesthetic unit for the hospital.

Kerry’s name is one of hundreds of youngsters on plaques in the entrance to the hospital building.

Eleanor, who works for Moray Council, is delighted the Elton John t-shirts will help a local appeal designed to make time in hospital more comfortable and relaxing for children and their parents.

It is planned to auction the Elton John t-shirts at a Moray Friends of ARCHIE ball at the end of May but sealed bids can be made in advance of the evening to Chris Saunderson, chairman of the appeal committee, c/o ‘The Northern Scot’, 74-76 South Street, Elgin.