We meet the family of an inspirational young lady who passed away last year. The family, inspired by her and her strength organised a charity event and today handed money over to the British Heart foundation.
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00:00So we're here in Willanall and we're here at church. Which church? General Assembly Church of Jesus Christ. Cool. And special t-shirts there. Who've we got on the t-shirts? Just fill us in.
00:13We've got Rihanna. She was your daughter wasn't she? Yeah. Special lady wasn't she? Very inspirational. She kind of dealt a set of cards that were a challenge it's fair to say. Just give us a brief outline on some of the things she had going on in her life that she was battling with.
00:33She was born with multiple heart defects so the consultants just described it as simply having a heart like a scrambled egg. That's the way they could simplify it. She had holes in the heart. She had a transposition of the great arteries was actually the diagnosis. And basically she was given three months to live.
00:55Yeah. After her initial open major open heart surgery she actually ended up having three open heart surgeries 14 cardiac catheters and then at the age of seven she developed PLE which is protein losing enteropathy where protein doesn't stay in your body.
01:15You lose it through your body. You lose it through your body. You lose it through your bowel. So therefore because protein it absorbs fluid. So fluid wouldn't be absorbed and Rihanna would actually become quite bloated.
01:28And faith was a big part of her life wasn't it? Very big part of her life yeah. Do you think that's where she kind of got a lot of her strength from?
01:35I believe she did yeah. She will tell you that. Yeah. She got a lot of her strength from her faith. She trusted God. She trusted his plan.
01:43Even in 2014 when the doctors gave her days to live in 2014. Yeah. She actually just said calm down guys. I ain't giving her away. Yeah. Which is crazy. And she amazed them didn't she?
01:58You know. At that time it turned around didn't it? Yeah. And it wasn't days you know. You had her up until last year I believe. Yeah. 2021 again.
02:06She was given 18 months they said you know. And Rihanna's like am I in a joke world? That was her words. Yeah. Yeah.
02:15And she just carried on travelling. She had passed the driving test. She was working. And a lot of the you know doctors will say you don't have to work Rhi. You know.
02:24You know I don't know if you'll be able to go back to work. And she justified every prognosis that was given to her.
02:30So you know. She lived life to the full.
02:35So as a relative it must be kind of inspiring really. When you see a young lady like that having you know all that chucked at her.
02:44And just kind of getting on with things you know. And just taking it in a stride.
02:48Yeah absolutely. And she's a year younger than me as well. So.
02:52Yeah.
02:53Even more of an inspiration really.
02:56And you've been raising some money then. That's kind of what we're doing today isn't it? You had an event yeah?
03:01Yeah.
03:02And that I went to Leah.
03:04Go on Leah. You organised the event didn't you? So what happened at the event?
03:08It was a bake sale.
03:09Yeah.
03:09And I basically dropped it on my church like two weeks before.
03:13I'm sure they loved you for that.
03:16And then basically announced it and said I wanted to do something for Rihanna to raise funds in her name.
03:25And they all pulled together.
03:27Yeah.
03:28Pretty much straight away. The same time I announced it people were coming up to me and saying I'll do this I'll do that.
03:33And so yeah everybody basically baked and brought and it was it was just lovely.
03:41It was a beautiful day.
03:42The fellowship was wonderful as well.
03:44And did you have a goal of what you wanted to raise? Did you get there?
03:47Well my goal was £200.
03:50Yeah.
03:51And I think in the first 24 hours we raised like £500 or something like that.
03:56Yeah no way.
03:57And it just kept growing and growing and growing.
03:59So I didn't really have a goal for the bake sale itself.
04:04Well you did until the first hour.
04:06But yeah all together I wanted to raise £200.
04:09Yeah.
04:10And what did you raise in the end?
04:11We raised £1,310.
04:14Nice one.
04:15And that's going to who?
04:16British Heart Foundation.
04:17Awesome.
04:18Well well done guys.
04:19And I'm sure she'll be extremely proud of you watching down.
04:23Awesome work guys.
04:24What was her favourite bake?
04:25What would she have liked?
04:27Did she have a sweet tooth?
04:28Yes she did.
04:29What would it have been?
04:30She liked a slight lemon drizzle, bakelop tart and Victoria.
04:34I'll go with that mate.
04:35Yeah chuck a coffee cake in there as well.
04:37Yeah that's my goal.
04:38And she was a good baker as well.
04:40Was she?
04:40Yeah.
04:41She was a good baker.
04:41You must be extremely proud as a mum.
04:44You know just to see her and what she had to contend with and the way she dealt with it really.
04:48Yeah she was amazing.
04:49I think she inspired us.
04:51Yeah yeah.
04:52As parents, family, friends.
04:54You know, you just looked and you just thought, gosh if Rihanna could, I've got no excuse.
05:00Yeah exactly yeah.
05:01Don't sweat the small stuff and yeah.
05:03Yeah yeah.
05:03Well thank you ladies and well done for all your efforts there with the fundraising.
05:08So we're here, we've introduced yourselves.
05:10My name's Bishop Floyd Downey.
05:12And my name's Lucy.
05:13So Bishop, you must be, it's an impressive story isn't it, this young lady, her strength
05:19really.
05:21It's impressive to anyone then is it, you agree?
05:24Yeah it really is.
05:25It's just something that when you look at the background and the things that she's been
05:29through and how even at such a young age can do so many things, it's just inspiring to
05:37everyone to see and to know.
05:38Yeah yeah.
05:39And what, did you have a dabble on the event, the bake sale?
05:43I didn't actually bake any cakes.
05:45Oh come on man.
05:47Yes, it was glad to know that when Leah sort of mentioned the fact that she wanted to do
05:52this, it was, you know, yes, whatever we can do.
05:55Because in times of that magnitude, you really don't know what to do.
06:00Yeah yeah.
06:01And with that idea coming up, it was like how everybody could do their part, even though
06:05they might not be able to help the family directly, but indirectly it was an excellent
06:09opportunity which we took on board straight away.
06:12Well I hope you had a calorie free day and indulged and rattled a tin to the cake.
06:17I made sure that I got my fair fare.
06:19Good man, good man.
06:20And so you're from British Heart Foundation and you rely on these events, don't you, and
06:26people, you know.
06:27More than you could possibly imagine that, you know, just even the smallest amount makes
06:31such a difference into the research and work that we do and everything, everything all
06:35adds up together and supports and helps people and saves lives, so it means so, so much.
06:40And I mean, I guess in your role you hear a few different stories of, you know, things
06:46that people have been through, but Rhianna's really just stand out, doesn't it?
06:50You know, a strength for Ely.
06:52Yeah, absolutely.
06:52When I first heard the story I was really, really moved by it and, you know, I've been
06:56with them before, so I mean, it's just, I'm really, really grateful to be a part of this
07:00and lucky to see all the hard work that they've done and what they've done for us.
07:04Great stuff.
07:04Thank you for your involvement as well, guys.
07:07Okay.