Blake’s Guardian Angel Tracy scoops top award

An ‘amazing’ specialist nurse has been hailed a ‘Guardian Angel’ after being nominiated by a Co Armagh teenager in the new Goodness campaign.
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Blake McCaughey (13) has had to have specialist care for several years and the Tandragee teen nominated his nurse Tracy Close as part of the Dale Farm community goodness campaign.

Tracy, who is a Gastroenterology nurse, is the winner of the new Sharing Goodness Initiative, a six-week acts of kindness campaign to recognise all the good things happening in local communities. After receiving thousands of nominations, Tracy was chosen as a winner following the heart-warming submission from her Blake, who has spent two years in the Royal Belfast hospital for Sick Children receiving care and treatment for a serious intestinal condition.

Blakes condition means that he cannot absorb nutrition through eating or drinking, so will rely on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for the foreseeable future.

Blake McCaughey with his nurse Tracy Close.Blake McCaughey with his nurse Tracy Close.
Blake McCaughey with his nurse Tracy Close.

Blake recognised his ‘guardian angel’ and ‘NHS hero’ Tracy for her tireless work in looking after him and training his Mummy and Daddy to manage this procedure in under eight weeks.

Blake said: “What I love about Tracy most is she’s kind and does lots to help me deal with things, she talks to me an explains things so well. She’s held my hand and helped all my doctors do things when I’m not feeling brave enough. Tracy has been here a long time and all the kids she looks after think that she’s amazing.”

Dale Farm is sending Tracy and her partner to the Galgorm Resort and Spa, Ballymena, proving that good things really do happen to good people. Not to forget about Blake, he will receive a special ice cream hamper from Dale Farm with all his favourite flavours!

isling Bremner, Dale Farm said: “It’s been an incredible campaign so far– we’ve received thousands of nominations and heard countless stories of generosity and all-round goodness and we’re not even halfway there yet. Tracy and Blake’s inspirational story really stood out to us and we thought she truly deserved a much-needed break and to be recognised for the true hero that she is.”

On their mission to share goodness with local communities, for the next three weeks Dale Farm will continue to share the goodness in our community. Dale Farm is giving away £500 worth of prizes every week as they uncover good stories and good deeds. Nominate yourself or someone else by visiting www.sharinggoodnesseveryday.com – from healthcare workers, young volunteers and community workers to good neighbours, fantastic farmers and family heroes. If you have a good story, Dale Farm wants to hear it.