A premature baby girl born in Bermuda on Christmas Day is expected to be flown off the island this morning for emergency medical treatment abroad.

Kee-Ijah Bailey and her mother, Elisha Joell, will be taken to the Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto by air ambulance so the four-day-old baby can receive specialist care.

Ms Joell said: “It’s a very worrying time for the family. We are praying and just hoping for the best.

“Her lungs were not fully developed when she was born and she has been receiving medication to help her breathe on her own.

“However, they can’t give her any more of that medication.

“That is why the decision has been made in the last 24 hours to fly her abroad to Toronto.”

Ms Joell added: “I’ll be with her all through the flight and once we have got to Toronto.

“We just hope that the hospital in Toronto will be able to help my little girl and get her better.”

Tiny Kee-Ijah weighed only 3lb 8oz when she was born ten weeks premature at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital late on Christmas Day.

She has been cared for around the clock in the neonatal intensive care unit ever since.

But doctors have decided that Kee-Ijah needs further treatment overseas.

Ms Joell has contacted the Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association to help fund her baby’s medical evacuation from the island.

Her family have also set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise funds to repay the LCCA for the charity’s help.

Nearly $9,000 of the $15,000 target had been donated to the page by yesterday afternoon.

The GoFundMe page said: “If you can find it in your hearts to donate towards saving our baby girl it will greatly be appreciated. All funds donated will be going towards the LCCA.”

Ms Joell added: “We are hoping that people will donate funds to the GoFundMe page to help us pay for the emergency flight somewhere down the line when Kee-Ijah is better.

“For the moment, it looks like we will be able to leave Bermuda on an air ambulance on Friday morning.”