Chloe Gratwick
Donation protected
Thank you for visiting this page to help raise money for the Gratwick Family.
The hope is to raise money for Chloe and the Family to allow them to adapt their home or purchase any aids required to help with Chloe's recovery
Also when Chloe is able, it would be lovely to see the Gratwick family go on a holiday as this had been the most difficult and challenging time for the whole family.
Below is Chloe's story to date which has kindly being written by Chloe's Auntie Stef:
Chloe Gratwick is 13 years old. She attends Netherhall Secondary school, likes to listen to music, play with her friends and mess about on her phone.
On Tuesday 9th January she was sent home sick from school with a headache, and later that day, the family were to learn the devastating news that she had a brain tumour.
Previously she had been complaining about headaches which wouldn't budge over the Christmas holiday so her mum, Sonia, took her to the doctors. Her parents had also noticed that, in the past few months she had been quite lethargic and slept a lot , but show me a teenager who doesn't sleep too much!
Little did we know - the heart breaking truth, that she had a brain tumour.
Chloe showed no other signs that she was ill apart from her left eyeball had started to judder when she looked to the left - something that seemed odd and was a result of the tumour pressing on the optic nerve.
Her GP was exceptional and without her support, knowledge and instinct Chloe wouldn't be here today. After doing a few simple tests she 'erred' on the side of caution and sent Chloe to the hospital that evening. Something that the family is so thankful for.
At hospital they did a few more tests and decided that she needed an MRI scan in the morning. Sonia and her husband , Matt (Chloe's dad) were told then that there was a chance that she could have a brain tumour although that was the worst case scenario and it could be a number of other things causing the headaches/eye flickering.
The next morning she had the MRI scan which revealed our worst fears. The news tore through our hearts, leaving us frightened and unsure of the future. The consultant explained that the tumour was attached to the top of her spine and by the size of it - it had been there , undetected, for a number of years.
She was immediately booked into surgery and on Tuesday 16th January She underwent a six hour operation performed by the incredible Helen Fernandes, Neurosurgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
Surgery went well and a MRI scan revealed that they had successfully removed the whole thing, which is a miracle.
Despite our euphoria regarding the success of the surgery our happiness turned to fear and sadness seeing our little Chloe in intensive care. She looked so vulnerable and small covered in tubes and machines. For the next month Chloe was in and out of consciousness, she was sedated most of the time due to problems with her breathing and was in a critical condition.
On 1st February 2018 she went back into surgery to have a tracheostomy fitted because of the loss of her gag reflex- something that we are still hoping will be temporary but at this stage we do not know.
Her left side of her body has been badly effected and she is completely deaf in her left ear. Her left eye is still not working and her left side is definitely weaker.
Having a brain tumour is complex. Brain tumour treatment is complex. Everything from now on will be complex. Chloe's journey is going to be a long one which will be incredibly frustrating and hard for her. She will be in hospital for months and she will have to work so hard to be able to walk again. Devastatingly, her gag reflex might not return which means that Chloe will have to have her tracheostomy in for life and will never be able to eat or drink - a pleasure of life for most of us. If this happens she will have to be fed by tubes. Her eyesight is still a worry and her emotional state has been very damaged as she has experienced a high level of trauma. Doctors have warned us that the hardest part of recovery often occurs after the patient has been discharged from the hospital and this is when the whole family will need the most support.
If you can support by making a donation it would be much appreciated .
Money can be tight for everyone but even £1 will make a difference and hopefully help with Chloe's recovery.
At this difficult time the family wish for this not to be shared on facebook,thank you for respecting this.
If you have any questions please use the contact email and we will be happy to answer them.
Many Thanks for your help.
The hope is to raise money for Chloe and the Family to allow them to adapt their home or purchase any aids required to help with Chloe's recovery
Also when Chloe is able, it would be lovely to see the Gratwick family go on a holiday as this had been the most difficult and challenging time for the whole family.
Below is Chloe's story to date which has kindly being written by Chloe's Auntie Stef:
Chloe Gratwick is 13 years old. She attends Netherhall Secondary school, likes to listen to music, play with her friends and mess about on her phone.
On Tuesday 9th January she was sent home sick from school with a headache, and later that day, the family were to learn the devastating news that she had a brain tumour.
Previously she had been complaining about headaches which wouldn't budge over the Christmas holiday so her mum, Sonia, took her to the doctors. Her parents had also noticed that, in the past few months she had been quite lethargic and slept a lot , but show me a teenager who doesn't sleep too much!
Little did we know - the heart breaking truth, that she had a brain tumour.
Chloe showed no other signs that she was ill apart from her left eyeball had started to judder when she looked to the left - something that seemed odd and was a result of the tumour pressing on the optic nerve.
Her GP was exceptional and without her support, knowledge and instinct Chloe wouldn't be here today. After doing a few simple tests she 'erred' on the side of caution and sent Chloe to the hospital that evening. Something that the family is so thankful for.
At hospital they did a few more tests and decided that she needed an MRI scan in the morning. Sonia and her husband , Matt (Chloe's dad) were told then that there was a chance that she could have a brain tumour although that was the worst case scenario and it could be a number of other things causing the headaches/eye flickering.
The next morning she had the MRI scan which revealed our worst fears. The news tore through our hearts, leaving us frightened and unsure of the future. The consultant explained that the tumour was attached to the top of her spine and by the size of it - it had been there , undetected, for a number of years.
She was immediately booked into surgery and on Tuesday 16th January She underwent a six hour operation performed by the incredible Helen Fernandes, Neurosurgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
Surgery went well and a MRI scan revealed that they had successfully removed the whole thing, which is a miracle.
Despite our euphoria regarding the success of the surgery our happiness turned to fear and sadness seeing our little Chloe in intensive care. She looked so vulnerable and small covered in tubes and machines. For the next month Chloe was in and out of consciousness, she was sedated most of the time due to problems with her breathing and was in a critical condition.
On 1st February 2018 she went back into surgery to have a tracheostomy fitted because of the loss of her gag reflex- something that we are still hoping will be temporary but at this stage we do not know.
Her left side of her body has been badly effected and she is completely deaf in her left ear. Her left eye is still not working and her left side is definitely weaker.
Having a brain tumour is complex. Brain tumour treatment is complex. Everything from now on will be complex. Chloe's journey is going to be a long one which will be incredibly frustrating and hard for her. She will be in hospital for months and she will have to work so hard to be able to walk again. Devastatingly, her gag reflex might not return which means that Chloe will have to have her tracheostomy in for life and will never be able to eat or drink - a pleasure of life for most of us. If this happens she will have to be fed by tubes. Her eyesight is still a worry and her emotional state has been very damaged as she has experienced a high level of trauma. Doctors have warned us that the hardest part of recovery often occurs after the patient has been discharged from the hospital and this is when the whole family will need the most support.
If you can support by making a donation it would be much appreciated .
Money can be tight for everyone but even £1 will make a difference and hopefully help with Chloe's recovery.
At this difficult time the family wish for this not to be shared on facebook,thank you for respecting this.
If you have any questions please use the contact email and we will be happy to answer them.
Many Thanks for your help.
Organizer and beneficiary
Stefanie Ingrey Nee Loizou
Organizer
Stefanie Ingrey
Beneficiary
