The business of giving back
ONE of the smallest babies born in Townsville’s history is now giving back to the facility that allowed her to grow and blossom into an inspiring teenager.
Madison Smith was delivered at the Townsville University Hospital at just 26 weeks and only 470g in 2007.
Through expert medical work and care, Madison was able to develop into a healthy baby and hasn’t looked back.
Last year, Madison launched her own business, Mad About Dye.
The 13-year-old sells her products at local markets, on social media and The Gift Cupboard.
“My grandmother would go to the market and I went with her in 2017 to help her sell stuff,” Madison said.
“It was from that I decided to start my own business.”
Madison specialises in tiedyed T-shirts and has a unique method to ensure the colour doesn’t wash out.
“I’ve practised it a lot so I can get the right procedure to make sure the colour stays on the shirt,” she said.
Madison recently teamed up with Cathy Sunderland and Tina Dibella to design and create items for premature babies at TUH.
Madison donated specially made clothes, bamboo wraps and beanies to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit.
She said it was an emotional time seeing the doctors and nurses who looked after her all those years ago.
“It was incredible,” Madison said of her recent trip to the unit.
“Every year I go to the hos
pital and bring them a cake. I love it there.
“When I was born, I was really premature and they all looked after me.
“A few weeks ago, we found
out one of the doctors who looked after me had retired. He took care of me so it hurt to hear he had retired.”
Madison said she hoped to have a website for her business soon and planned to sell her products internationally.
Madison also plans on holding tie-dye workshops for children in the summer school holidays.