Teenage heart patient conquers the odds for charity

A DETERMINED teenager has shown true grit by refusing to let a serious heart condition get in the way of her brave fundraising efforts.

Katie Macrae (15) from Smithton in Inverness was born with a range of complex defects including a hole in her heart wall and weakness in the valves.

But she has refused to let illness get in the way and has conquered the UK’s highest mountain in aid of a charity which was there for her in the wake of her most recent operation.

The Zak Scott Braveheart Foundation was established in memory of a Scottish teenager who struggled with his own heart problems and died of post-operative complications aged just 14 in 2011. He believed that every child should have a present waiting for them after surgery and the foundation presented Katie with a bracelet after an operation in 2016 – her second that year and third overall.

"I had my first open heart surgery in 2006 and another in January 2016, but it didn’t work well so I had a keyhole heart operation later in the year," she said.

That operation, in November 2016, helped strengthen her heart, but she is aware she could still need further procedures in the future.

"It could last the next two months, three years or whatever. We just don’t really know because it works differently in everyone," she said.

Having previously taken part in fundraising for the British Heart Foundation, this time she wanted to "give something back" to the Zak Scott Foundation and although she turned down uncle Rory Macleod’s suggestion that she run a marathon, she was more keen on the idea of mountain climbing.

"He said we should do a marathon and I said ‘no way’, but then he suggested Ben Nevis and I thought I’d go for that," she said.

"My grandparents thought I was joking when I told them."

Her doctors were also shocked.

"They said ‘we can’t really stop you’ though, and as long as I did lots of training for it, I should be okay," she said.

In preparation, Katie and her uncle first scaled East Lomond (1470 feet) before moving onto The Law (2093 feet) and Ben Cleuch (2365 feet).

She then battled her way to the top of Ben Nevis (4413 feet) on July 17.

Taking it slow and steady she managed to reach the top in eight hours, with her uncle – who wore a T-shirt declaring himself "Katie’s Sherpa" – at her side.

"I felt so knackered but it was worth it, even though it was misty at the top," she said.

"Luckily I am not afraid of heights so it wasn’t too bad, but when it got really steep and zig-zagged, it was hard because it looked like it went on forever."

Katie’s grandfather Innes MacRae (65) was among relatives waiting for her return at the base of the mountain.

"You do worry about her but she’s determined and once she’s set her mind on something you know she’ll do it," he said.

"She has been through so much and it shows in her character. She can be a bit of a handful sometimes, but she is a wonderful girl and we are all proud of her."

The Culloden Academy pupil has raised more than £1500 with her effort so far and has left her Just Giving page open for donations in the hope of raising even more.

To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/katie-macrae26