Candles lit in support of Canadian Paralympian fighting for her life

Community members are banding together in support of a former Paralympic champion who is on life support at Western University Hospital in London, Ont.

Danielle Campo McLeod, a world champion swimmer from Tecumseh, Ont., suffered complications after giving birth to her third child, daughter Morgan, on Aug. 17. She's had to undergo several surgeries to correct a bowel strangulation "We're asking everyone for prayers because she needs a miracle. We're always looking for as many prayers as we can get," said Leo Demarce, Campo McLeod's uncle. Her complications arose after giving birth by caesarian section. She underwent surgery at Windsor Regional Hospital to have some of her bowel removed and was able to go home. But further problems developed and she returned to hospital for emergency surgery for septic shock. "People think childbirth and c-sections are just standard. It's amazing how things can go wrong," said Colleen Campo, Danielle's mother. On Sunday Sept. 12, Campo McLeod was transported by ORNGE ambulance to Western University Hospital and remains in critical care, on life support machines. Campo McLeod learned to swim and became a world-class athlete, despite being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of two. She won a total of seven medals representing Canada at the 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia and Athens, Greece. She also won multiple world championship gold medals and set world records.