A DAD will run across seven islands in two days to thank medical staff who saved his baby daughter.

Little Rosalind Welsh was born with a massive tumour at the base of her spine, leaving her parents fearing the worst.

But surgeons at Glasgow's Yorkhill Hospital managed to remove the growth in a seven-hour operation when she was just 10 days old.

Parents Mike and Rebecca were so grateful to skilled surgeon Nicola Brindley they gave their daughter Nicola as a middle name.

And now Mike, along with family and friends, is to run across Cumbrae, Bute, Arran, Islay, Jura, Gigha and the Holy Isle to raise cash to say "thank you" to Yorkhill.

Mike, 42, said: "We can't thank the staff at Yorkhill enough for what they did for our family and for Rosie.

"They are absolutely amazing and Nicola was just brilliant in the way she treated us all - she absolutely saved the day.

"Yorkhill gave us back our daughter."

Rebecca had a normal pregnancy with Rosie - her second after older daughter Jocelyn, 4.

But her due date of December 7, 2011, came and went without any movement and at a midwife appointment, the couple were told all was well.

But by December 30, Rebecca was sure something wasn't right and a second midwife discovered the baby was breach.

The following day the 32-year-old was taken into Crosshouse Hospital for a Caesarian section.

Mike added: "When Rosie came out she had a large tumour on her spine. She was taken from Crosshouse Hospital to the Southern General and then two days later was transferred to Yorkhill.

"It was a difficult time for us, we were just so shocked. I have two older daughters, Skye and Iona, as well as Jocelyn so you just assume that everything will be fine."

At Yorkhill, the family were introduced to Ms Brindley who explained Rosie would need a major operation.

The growth sat around her lower spine and extended inside her thighs with the operation carrying the risk of cutting a major blood vessel into the baby's legs.

Two theatre teams were used during the seven-hour operation.

Mike said: "We said our goodbyes to Rosie and just floated about in a trance for seven hours.

"It was the hardest thing saying goodbye and knowing we may never see her again."

Fortunately, the operation was a success but Rosie remained in Yorkhill for 10 more weeks before she was well enough to go home.

She now has to attend the hospital every three months for blood tests, ultra sounds and X-rays, which will continue until she is 16.

Despite fearing that she might not walk until she turned three, Rosie is now racing around like a normal 20-month-old.

Mike, from West Kilbride, North Ayrshire, was determined to raise cash for the hospital so he and family members came up with the idea of a Seven Islands Challenge.

After completing a smaller version of the scheme last year - and raising £8000 - the family wanted to increase the challenge this year.

HE, his brothers, brothers-in-law and dad will sail to the islands, running on each one, in just two days.

The group will leave from Largs at 7am on Monday to sail 270 miles in a boat skippered by Mike's dad John, 70, and run a total of 63 miles.

Rebecca and Mike's sister Hazel and mum Myra will complete the family group, cooking for the runners.

Mike said: "We are really having to work as a team to get this done - it's a pretty big challenge - but the support we have been receiving from friends and colleagues has been amazing. Hopefully we will hit our target of £8000."

Mike has asked Yorkhill to put his cash towards food or food vouchers for families who struggle with the cost of visiting a child in hospital.

The businessman came up with the idea after speaking to other families while Rosie was in hospital.

Kirsten Sinclair, fundraising manager at Yorkhill Children's Charity, said: "We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Michael and all his family and friends."

AND she went on: "Michael has already raised an incredible amount for the charity.

"We would like to wish him and everyone involved the best of luck.

"Without the support of people like Michael we would not be able to continue providing the services that we do."

Mike added: "We are determined to give something back to Yorkhill. How could you put a value on a life? I'll always be in their debt."

l To donate, go to: www.justgiving.com/7islands2