Esmée was born at 28 weeks and spent her early months in intensive care, requiring surgery on her brain, lungs, and bowel.
She now lives with multiple complex conditions. She is non-verbal and non-mobile, which means she needs round-the-clock care and attends a special needs school with one-to-one support.
Discussing her daughter, Ms McGlinchey said: “In the very short six years she’s been on this planet she’s been forced to fight for her place in this world and my word has she done just that.
“This award will give Esmée, and us as her family, a sense of pride for the immense strength she has demonstrated over the years and everything she has overcome.”
WellChild chief executive Matt James added: “Young people like Esmée embody what the WellChild Awards are all about – strength, compassion and the will to help others thrive in the face of adversity.”
Correction: an earlier version of this story inadvertently used the wrong image.