Caring Tia says fundraising thank you to hospital that saved her brother's life

A thoughtful 10-year-old girl from Worksop is preparing to bake up a storm this month to help raise funds for the hospital that saved her little brother's life.

Tia Malik will sell a variety of homebaked treats at her school, Prospect Junior and Infants, for the Sheffield Children’s Hospitals Bake it Better Day on June 27.

The caring youngster was inspired to take part in the fundraiser by her five-year-old brother Ollie who underwent life-saving surgery at the hospital as a baby.

Their mum, Laura Malik, said: “Ollie was only two days old when I first thought something might be wrong.

“He didn’t look poorly and he was feeding but he wasn’t going to the toilet at all.

“If he hadn’t have been baby number five I probably would have been none the wiser but I could tell something wasn’t right.”

Laura and and Ollie’s dad, Gavin, took him to hospital in Worksop and two hours later his stomach swelled to the size of a football. He was rushed to Sheffield Children’s Hospital for an operation where specialists discovered that his bowel had perforated.

Ollie was diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s disease, a rare condition that results in constant blockages in the digestive system and abdominal pain.

After his operation Ollie had to spend three weeks in hospital and has since undergone ten trips to theatre, all to try and correct his condition.

““We’ve got such an amazing hospital on our doorstep where everyone is willing to give you their time. Without them we wouldn’t have Ollie – so really the children’s hospital means everything to us,” Laura added.

Tia has done bake sales at her school in the past and ,when she found out about Bake it Better Day, she wanted to give something back.

Laura went on: “Tia is the only girl out of our eight children and she just loves her brothers to pieces.

“She’ll be making the posters herself and telling everyone what she’s up to – although I’ll definitely be giving her a hand with the cakes- she’s got big plans. Tia is a very mature 10-year-old and has read up on the ways the money will help the hospital.”

Get involved with Bake it Better Day by visiting www.tchc.org.uk/events/bake-it-better-day.