Hi, my name is Esther and I have made this page for our family friends who have been through a life changing ordeal this last year, but more specifically their daughter Amelia.

Amelia is a beautiful, highly intelligent 12 year old girl. She is vivacious, full of life and fun, a social butterfly who thrives being around her friends. With her energetic nature, her passions were dancing and playing netball.

Over the last eleven months, this young lady has faced the most unimaginable health complications.

On 30th October 2024, Amelia's world and that of her family fell apart when she suffered a spinal stroke, resulting in a spinal cord injury, just hours after what should have been a routine scoliosis operation. This resulted in her becoming paralysed from the waist down.

She was rushed back to theatre immediately, all metalwork removed and she then remained in ICU for a week. A week later she then developed a severe spinal infection which involved 2 further operations and 12 weeks of intravenous antibiotics. After 4 long months she started to get some sensation back and was able to wiggle her big toe. Only at that time, the family knew then there was some hope.

As her spine had gone back to it's curve, her scoliosis progressed even further, putting a strain on her heart and causing her pain. There was no choice but for the operation to be done again.

Halo Femoral Traction was then decided as the safest way to straighten her spine before surgery was attempted again. However, she became poorly with an infection in the bone in her knees where part of the traction had been screwed. Back into theatre she went to have the traction removed, her knees flushed out and then a week later again into theatre to have another flush out followed by 6 further weeks of intravenous antibiotics.

On 4th June, she finally had a partial correction of her scoliosis with fusion, as going entirely straight was now deemed too risky. It went as well as the family hoped. However, she then became unwell with vomiting and underwent tests for SMA syndrome. She then developed pleural effusion, needing oxygen at night and ended up with a chest drain which was removed 2 weeks later.

Amelia remained in Nottingham QMC for 9½ months. From admission last October to July, she lost 2 stone. Her body has experienced so much trauma. The spinal cord injury has left her with bladder and bowel damage, kidney scarring, involuntarily tremors, and her body being unable to regulate its own temperature. The list goes on. It's truly heartbreaking that this has happened to her.

On a positive note, she has got a lot of sensation and movement back and is managing a few steps with her walking frame with assistance which is down to the amazing physio (BRILL) team at QMC. However she still has a long way to go.

In August she was transferred to Stoke Mandeville Rehabilitation Centre in Buckinghamshire, where she currently remains.

Going forward Amelia will need around the clock care and the family are having to extend their home to make it wheelchair accessible and for her to have her own downstairs bedroom and wet room.

Throughout it all Amelia has shown tremendous resilience and approached everything with such a positive attitude. She always has a big smile on her face and hasn't lost her zest for life. She is truly remarkable. We often talk about needing strength and resilience in life, but the kind of resilience Amelia has shown this past nearly one year has been nothing short of incredible.

We are helping to raise the vital funds this family needs to make the necessary adaptations in their home for Amelia and to help them provide the continuous care that she will need.

Thank you.