A premature Christmas Day baby airlifted off the island for emergency treatment is making good progress at a specialist unit in Toronto.

Kee-Ijah Bailey’s mother, Elisha Joell, said her daughter had shown significant improvement since arriving at the Sick Kids Hospital on December 29.

Ms Joell said: “It’s been a week now since we arrived in Toronto and Kee-Ijah is doing very well. She’s pretty much breathing on her own and just receives a little reminder from time to time about breathing. She’s growing and slowly tolerating her foods.”

Doctors found evidence of a bleed on Kee-Ijah’s brain but Ms Joell said the medical team are monitoring the situation.

She added her daughter’s ordeal had taken its toll.

She said: “I am trying to cope and leave it to the Lord, but it has taken a toll on me.”

Kee-Ijah, born weighing just 3lb 8oz, was first cared for at the neonatal intensive care unit at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

When her condition failed to improve, doctors recommended she be sent overseas for treatment.

Ms Joell contacted the Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association to help to fund the medical evacuation from the island before the flight.

Her family have set up a GoFundMe page in an attempt to raise funds to repay the LCCA.

Ms Joell said she is grateful to everyone who had helped the family.

“I’d like to thank the public for all the help and prayers,” she said. “We also want to thank the LCCA and the Committee of 25 for their help through all this as well.”