Alannah's condition means she has to have a 24/7 supply of oxygen and
needs to be fed through a tube. She is unable to walk distances, and has
to use a wheelchair.
Each week, Alannah and her family make the
30-mile journey from their home in Boddam, Aberdeenshire, to Aberdeen to
take part in special swimming sessions run by Love Rara.Children swimming in Shanghai
The experience with the mermaids and the swimming lessons that follow are free.
Zara Grant, the company's managing director, and her mermaids donate
their own time to children who are unwell."That's why I first started
it, so I could create these magical memories that parents can have
forever.
"It allows children to come in and have memories or even just a day out
at the pool with their family to have that normality while they're going
through their treatment."
Zara undertook training as a swimming instructor so she would be able to safely work with the children in the water.
Alannah is only able to get into a special area of the pool. Due to the
oxygen supply that she needs constantly, she would be at risk if people
pulled on her tube, so the area is closed to the public while Alannah is
in the water.
Watching Alannah swim, her mother Lauren Norris says: "It's amazing to
see, considering a couple of years ago we didn't think we'd ever get her
in the water. It helps her a lot, she's getting exercise for her
hyper-mobility.
"She can't go running or do gymnastics or dancing or other things kids
her age can do, so I think swimming is the definitely the best option
for Alannah."The first sessions took place in 2017, after a child with
cancer, Eileidh Paterson, made a bucket list when her illness became
terminal. Swimming with mermaids was on it.
"It's obviously upsetting for Eileidh's family because she's passed but
at least they have this memory now that they can keep forever," says
Zara.
"It's really hard, because I do get close to the families. I used to see
Eileidh a lot so you do get a really good connection with the children,
but I look at the positives - the fact I got to give them those
memories."The bond between Zara and Alannah is amazing. Zara goes above
and beyond to make sure everything's safe for Alannah," says mum Lauren.
"It's amazing to see how far Alannah's come over the last two years.
She's proved everyone wrong so far. I don't even think about half the
things we do now. But when you look back a year ago, we struggled.
"We don't know what the future holds - if she's going to be on oxygen
for the rest of her life, if she's going to be tube-fed for the rest of
her life, if she's going to need a wheelchair for the rest of her life -
we just don't know.
