Six year old Sara is helping sick children

“They helped me. Now it’s my turn to help them’ - this was what Sara said to me the day of the launch.”

The words of proud Cork mum Diane Higgins whose little daughter Sara is the star patient for this year’s Annual Great Irish Bake for Sick Children.

Sara was born with a rare genetic condition called Muenke Syndrome, a craniofacial condition which caused the bones in her skull to fuse too early in the womb.

At just six years old, Sara has been through numerous surgeries due to the condition which can lead to dangerous pressure on the brain, as well as hearing and vision loss - both of which Sara suffers with.

Despite all of this, her mum said Sara has never focused on the downsides of her condition and her smile has always shone through the darker times.

Recently, Sara joined award-winning food writer and TV presenter Donal Skehan for the launch of the 17th Annual Great Irish Bake for Sick Children which kicks off on 11 April.

“Sara has always wanted to be a baker since she was very young,” her mum, Diane, told the Cork Independent.

“We have participated in the Great Irish Bake as a family running a bake sale as part of the campaign for a few years now locally, so when we were asked by their fundraising team member Pam Gaffney to get involved as patient ambassadors, we jumped at the chance. It seemed like a perfect fit for our star baker,” said Diane.

On the day, Sara shared some of her own expert baking tips with Donal who graciously accepted her recipe for the pancakes she bakes every Saturday morning.

Diane said: “The launch was brilliant. We brought the whole crew up for a family day out. Sara was gifted the gigantic cake that you see in the photos on the day. We were a sight to behold bringing it home on the train!” she added.

Last year, the Great Irish Bake for Sick Children raised over €170,000, helping to fund new and emerging technologies and life-saving equipment to those who need it the most.

Diane said: “They also go to small little things that make a difference in other ways. I remember being ready to go for a surgery with a nervous Sara, and Minnie Mouse turned up in the ward giving out teddy bears to the children. This really made a big difference to Sara and brought some joy to an otherwise difficult situation, and she still treasures this teddy.”

To help her brain grow properly, Sara has had a number of surgeries throughout her life, enduring major surgeries at six months and five years of age, where metal bars known as distractors were inserted into her skull.

Diane recalled: “As part of the procedure, we had to twist the bars at home twice a day. It was daunting at first, but we all got used to it and Sara handled it very well with her trademark smile and easy-going nature.”

Diane describes her daughter as an amazing little girl who is known everywhere she goes and makes friends with everyone she meets.

“I never really understood what people meant when they described someone as magnetic, but this is exactly how I describe Sara,” said Diane.

“She just has this way of drawing people to her. I would often be in a coffee shop or somewhere with Sara and there are strangers who don’t know me, but they always know Sara, and it’s common for people to stop just to buy her sweets or say hello,” she said.

Throughout their six year journey as a family, Diane said there have been some especially tough moments along the way.

She said: “One of the toughest moments for us was when Sara, before one of her surgeries, told me she was scared. It was heartbreaking to hear her express her fear, but I was so proud of how brave she was.

“I remember before a surgery when she told me she would squeeze my hand if she felt scared. It was emotional being in the operating theatre holding her hand and feeling her squeeze it tight. It’s one of those moments I will never forget.”

Another challenge the family faces is receiving bad news along the way, for example finding out that Sara’s hearing has gotten worse.

Diane said: “Sometimes after we have overcome one hurdle, something else sets us back.

“While we’ve gotten used to hearing difficult things, it doesn’t get any easier. For me, I usually need time to process the news. Once I do, I can move forward.

“When Sara was born, we initially grieved the things that she might not be able to do, but Sara has never focused on those. She’s always concentrated on the many things she is great at. Now, I couldn’t imagine her any other way,” said Diane.

The Great Irish Bake is open to everyone. Participants are encouraged to get creative, host bake sales, and share their delicious creations. To register, childrenshealth.ie/GreatIrishBake.