AN eight-year-old girl from Kilbirnie has warmed the nation’s heart with her amazing song to thank NHS workers who helped saved her life.

Maria Hey’s rendition of Over the Rainbow for all the healthcare heroes fighting on the frontline of coronavirus, even caught the attention of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, as it became an online hit.

Her proud mum Leeon said her wee fighter wanted to bring smiles to the NHS workers – and the First Minister – during the current crisis.

The St Bridget’s Primary pupil was treated for a rare auto-immune reaction, which left her with swelling in her brain.

Leeon said: “Maria had been really ill in 2018, she kept falling unconscious. It turned out her brain was swelling. We were in and out the hospital for a good time.”

The condition was called ADEM, with a rare antibody attacking the youngster’s spinal fluid which left her unable to walk. It took her three months to recover.

Maria, who also lives with her dad David and brother Paul, 10, still receives care, but her experience in hospital has stuck with her.

It was the motivation behind her song dedicated to the NHS heroes and teachers at her school who dedicated extra time to helping her get through primary 1 and 2.

Leeon said: “We can totally appreciate that the doctors and nurses are doing just now. What they did for us was amazing, they never left her side, they were in and out all day.

“It all inspired her with her song. When I asked her why she was doing it, she said they made me feel better, so I hope they can make people with coronavirus better too.”

Maria also wanted to bring some joy to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, hoping the song would make her smile.

Leeon decided to send the video across to Ms Sturgeon and she was amazed to see that the First Minister shared the video on Twitter, with the video being viewed over 150k times.

It also caught the attention of national news station STV, with the video reaching thousands more across the UK.

Leeon said: “She was overwhelmed when I told her how many people had watched it.

“She said ‘does that mean the NHS have heard the song?’ and I said, ‘I think so’.

“Me and her dad are so proud. He keeps asking everyday how many more hits she’s got. It’s just a perfect song in the perfect moment.”

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