A Belfast woman has spoken about how her granddaughter has been defying all odds in the run up to her first birthday.
Back in April, Belfast Live first covered the story of baby Ariah when grandmother Karolyn McNeice said the family were told to "prepare for the worst" as she initially wasn't breathing due to complications during her birth on September 18, 2021.
She was diagnosed with Neo-Natal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy - a type of brain damage due to a lack of oxygen - as well as cerebral palsy, dystonia, epilepsy and other complex needs.
Read more: 'Warrior princess' baby struggling with brain damage and complex needs
The youngster spent the first nine months of her life in hospital and was unable to meet many members of her family. She also endured coronavirus and two bouts of pneumonia.
However, in recent months Ariah has been able to leave hospital much more often, sometimes for weeks at a time, and has been able to meet family members for the first time.
As she approaches her first birthday next month, she has been able to do much more than doctors first initially thought.
Karolyn said: "When she was first born, the doctors said they thought she'd never be able to do half the stuff she can do at the minute.
"They said she would never be able to lift her own head up, where she can do that now, if you lie her on her tummy you can see her pushing with her arms and she'll lift her head up.
"At first, we thought she may not be able to see as well because part of the condition she has is some kids can be blind. But she can definitely see and hear you okay, she's started now where she'll actually follow you and your voice around. These are things they said she would never be able to do.
"In the past few months, she's had the tubes removed from her nose and the feeding tube is now going through her stomach. She still can't swallow so still has to be suctioned but she has improved.
"She had been in hospital continuously for nine months from the start of her life, but she's been out a few times now from then. She was out for a good few weeks there then went into the Hospice on Friday for respite.
"She took sick again and ended up in the Royal on Sunday. They're just checking for infections and stuff at the minute, but she's on antibiotics now so they're allowing her home today.
"It's great to have her out, but it's very stressful on everybody. I'm her carer during the day, I do 30 hours a week with her just to give her mum a break."
On Friday, August 5, the family are holding a fundraiser at Whitehouse Working Men's Club starting at 6pm to raise funds to help buy specialised equipment and fund treatments to help with Ariah's development.
Through a fundraiser set up earlier this year, the family have so far been able to raise enough to buy her a support chair worth £700.
"You can get some stuff provided on the NHS but other stuff Ariah would need to help support her development, you have to buy yourself. That sort of stuff is quite expensive," Karolyn explained.
"But we're not just fundraising for equipment, it would be for therapies that aren't provided for her that we think would benefit her development."
Karolyn said the support they've received so far has been "absolutely phenomenal." Ahead of their fundraiser, local businesses such as Boutique Country House B&B in Crumlin have provided raffle prizes, while Copyworld at Merville printed the posters and tickets free of charge, and a group are decorating the room for free too.
"The level of support we have received, people who have donated, it's been fantastic," Karolyn added. "We really can't thank everyone enough for the support they've given us all so far.
"We're so grateful for everyone's help and support, to help us raise funds to help with Ariah's needs."
If you can't make it to the family's fundraiser on August 5, you can donate by clicking here.
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