Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Adele song goes Deep with Toni...
Intensive care girl’s family hope star will aid recovery
THE family of a Northern Ireland woman who is seriously ill in intensive care are hoping a message from her idol Adele will help her on the road to recovery. Toni Watson, 24, was born with Turner Syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects around one in 2,000 baby girls. Earlier this month, she underwent a 16-hour open heart surgery operation which left her unable to speak and she remains seriously ill in the cardiac intensive care unit at Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. The only communication the Dundonald woman has been able to give her family was when doctors suggested playing her favourite music. Her cousin Claire Mcquillan described the tear-jerking moment and added: “It was absolutely amazing for all of us. She started to clearly mouth the words to Rolling In The Deep, it was incredible, there wasn’t a dry eye in ICU.” The 34-year-old added: “When we found out how critically ill she was, we knew she loved Adele so we always had this idea in the back of our minds to try and get in touch with Adele to get a message, but when this happened, we knew that was a sign we had to try and contact her. “Given how Toni responded to hearing an Adele song we can just imagine how she would react to a personal message from Adele herself.” The family have now started a campaign on social media with the hashtag #Adelehelptoni. Toni has had numerous major heart surgeries, the first when she was just six weeks old. Her family were told her latest heart surgery on June 5 would last six to nine hours but she was in the operating theatre for double that after suffering multiple strokes causing brain damage, severe brain swelling and leaving her life in danger. Claire and her sister Nicola Harkins are urging everyone to share Toni’s story in the hope Adele will see it. She said: “We have no doubt this would give Toni a much-needed boost on her road to recovery and we would be beyond grateful for your help in making it a reality.” Follow their appeal on www.facebook.com/ourtoni/