Scots mum of girl born with organs 'outside her body' takes up nursing after being inspired by horror condition

A Scots mum has been inspired to become a nurse after seeing her baby daughter bravely battle a condition where he organs 'lived outside her body'.

Nursing student Paige Reid, 30, hopes she can help other new parents cope with the "anxiety and fear" of their baby being in hospital, after her daughter Lucy Lidell spent five weeks in a specialist neonatal ward after being born.

Lucy, now 5, was born prematurely at 32 weeks after being diagnosed with Gastroschisis, a condition where her organs lived outside her body.

Paige, from Motherwell, was given regular scans to monitor her daughter's progress but as she entered her final trimester, she became worried as Lucy's movements were limited.

Medics at the Queen Elizabeth Maternity Unit took the decision to deliver Lucy earlier than planned and she was then kept in for more than a month for treatment.

Paige, who worked as a care assistant before deciding to take the plunge into nursing, hopes she can one day be like the heroic team who treated Lucy.

She said: "I was at the neonatal ward first thing in the morning and left late at night. The nurses in the ward were unbelievable to our family. They really looked after us.

"It was at that moment, I decided I wanted to be a neonatal nurse. The anxiety and fear that you go through when your baby is in hospital is unbelievable. I hope to use my experience of this to care for others."

Paige made the change into nursing by carrying out a one-year 'swap' course. Following this, she started studying at university where she faced the challenge of studying during the Covid pandemic.

Paige said: “Most of my course was from home due to the lockdowns so it wasn’t easy studying with Lucy at home as she needed her mum, but I got there. Then, in my second year, I fell pregnant with my gorgeous son, Layton, so I had to take six months off.

“Since then, I’ve done various placements at the RHC, and each one has been amazing. The nursing teams are so helpful, and their work has been really inspiring. I am crossing my fingers for a spot on the neonatal ward once I have completed my course."

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's top nurse, Angela Wallace has praised nurses who make up over a quarter of the health board's workforce.

Speaking ahead of International Nurses Day yesterday, (May 12), Ms Wallace, Executive Director of Nursing said: "Nursing is such a rewarding career, and a path that many opt for following an experience in their personal life. Paige’s story is wonderful, and I’m delighted to hear that our nurses have inspired her journey.

"I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our nurses who work hard every day to deliver good, person-centred care and training for our students on placement.

“I’d also like to invite anyone who is thinking about what’s next for them to consider nursing. Paige is a great example that shows you don’t need to come straight from school into the training. There are various pathways into this career."

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