PARALYMPIC DREAM Sprinting her way to Tokyo

DANIELLE’S ON THE FAST TRACK TO ATHLETIC GLORY

- Steve Landells

Born with cerebral palsy, severe hearing loss and brought back from the dead by doctors at just three days’ old, few could have predicted the success to come for Danielle Aitchison.

Despite enduring a traumatic start to life, the 19-year-old is now one of the world’s top paralympic sprinters, and she says it’s thanks to her selfless mum Tracy.

“I honestly would have no clue where I would be without her in my life,” says Hamilton-based Danielle, who hopes to secure a podium spot at the rescheduled Paralympic Games in Tokyo later this year. “She has always believed in me and has been the biggest influence in my life.”

Tracy enjoyed a smooth pregnancy with Danielle, who was the second of her five children. However, shortly after her birth, she was suffering from severe jaundice and doctors discovered the blood types of Tracy and Danielle’s father were incompatible.

This meant antibodies had transferred through the placenta and were attacking Danielle’s vital organs. Suffering heart failure at three days old, she briefly died at Waikato Hospital, but was brought back to life by medics. She then spent two weeks in intensive care undergoing a total blood exchange transfusion.

“It was like it was not really happening,” recalls Tracy, 42, who works as an assistant accountant. “It was just like a bad dream.”