BRAVE schoolboy Dayn Montgomery refuses to let his complex heart defects stop him from spreading joy to other sick kids and their families.
The 11-year-old, who was just over a week old when he underwent open-heart surgery, works tirelessly raising funds and collecting chocolate treats and toiletries for children in hospital.
At Christmas, with the help of his 14th Ayrshire Scout Group, Dayn collects hundreds of toys, selection boxes and supplies for children having to spend the festive season away from home.
The little “Brave-heart” then delivers sackloads of goodies to Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children (RHC), Crosshouse Hospital, in Kilmarnock, and Whiteleys Retreat in Alloway, Ayrshire.
And every April Dayn takes part in the Hillbillies Motorcycle Club Easter egg run, which raises thousands for Crosshouse Children’s Fund.
Despite his heart condition, which can leave him feeling tired, Dayn works hard throughout the year to put smiles on the faces of others.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742004687/articles/Xdh0F3neDR7yGrXdSWsys/2166087088.jpg]
Now his selflessness has earned him a Child of Courage nomination in this year’s Pride of Scotland Awards.
His mum, Karen, a psychiatric nurse, said: "Dayn's such a wee warrior and loves giving back to the hospitals who have been looking after him. He makes everyone he meets smile. He is our little hero.
“He was born with truncus arteriosus, with an interrupted aortic arch. It initially went undetected until a junior doctor found this complex heart defect pre-discharge from Ayrshire Maternity Unit.”
Karen told how Dayn was nursed closely within ICU then transferred to Glasgow's RHC where he underwent 14-hour open-heart surgery at just eight days old. It was carried out by Professor Mark Danton and his team.
She said: “Dayn remained an inpatient for seven weeks before being discharged home. The community team comes to our home and he has outpatient clinic visits.”
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742004687/articles/Xdh0F3neDR7yGrXdSWsys/6240764971.jpg]
His family have been supporting RHC since he was a baby and began supporting Crosshouse Paediatrics five years ago. Karen, 51, said: “Dayn has been an inpatient within paediatrics since he was one due to suffering from pneumonia and bronchiolitis. We felt Crosshouse deserved recognition for the child services it offers and the care it has given Dayn.
“He carries out charity work at Easter an...
The 11-year-old, who was just over a week old when he underwent open-heart surgery, works tirelessly raising funds and collecting chocolate treats and toiletries for children in hospital.
At Christmas, with the help of his 14th Ayrshire Scout Group, Dayn collects hundreds of toys, selection boxes and supplies for children having to spend the festive season away from home.
The little “Brave-heart” then delivers sackloads of goodies to Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children (RHC), Crosshouse Hospital, in Kilmarnock, and Whiteleys Retreat in Alloway, Ayrshire.
And every April Dayn takes part in the Hillbillies Motorcycle Club Easter egg run, which raises thousands for Crosshouse Children’s Fund.
Despite his heart condition, which can leave him feeling tired, Dayn works hard throughout the year to put smiles on the faces of others.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742004687/articles/Xdh0F3neDR7yGrXdSWsys/2166087088.jpg]
Now his selflessness has earned him a Child of Courage nomination in this year’s Pride of Scotland Awards.
His mum, Karen, a psychiatric nurse, said: "Dayn's such a wee warrior and loves giving back to the hospitals who have been looking after him. He makes everyone he meets smile. He is our little hero.
“He was born with truncus arteriosus, with an interrupted aortic arch. It initially went undetected until a junior doctor found this complex heart defect pre-discharge from Ayrshire Maternity Unit.”
Karen told how Dayn was nursed closely within ICU then transferred to Glasgow's RHC where he underwent 14-hour open-heart surgery at just eight days old. It was carried out by Professor Mark Danton and his team.
She said: “Dayn remained an inpatient for seven weeks before being discharged home. The community team comes to our home and he has outpatient clinic visits.”
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742004687/articles/Xdh0F3neDR7yGrXdSWsys/6240764971.jpg]
His family have been supporting RHC since he was a baby and began supporting Crosshouse Paediatrics five years ago. Karen, 51, said: “Dayn has been an inpatient within paediatrics since he was one due to suffering from pneumonia and bronchiolitis. We felt Crosshouse deserved recognition for the child services it offers and the care it has given Dayn.
“He carries out charity work at Easter an...
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 15, 2025