Supporting Isabelle's Family in Intensive Care

As many of you will know, Isabelle was admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care unit at Bristol Children's hospital on Friday the 8th of December due to breathing difficulties following a routine operation.

Although the cause of Isabelle's breathing difficulties has now been established as a viral infection, an enquiry has been initiated by the hospitals trust into why Isabelle's operation was allowed to continue given that her breathing issues were evident from the outset of the procedure.

In the meantime myself, Isabelle's dad (Dan) and step-mum (Sophie) have been at Isabelle's bedside continuously for the past week as her condition worsened. Isabelle has been placed into a medically-induced coma and will be relying on a ventilator for some time to support her breathing while she is sedated. Although Isabelle's condition has stabilised over the last couple of days and we’re praying she has a stable weekend, we are anticipating that she will remain in the intensive care unit here for some time. The added financial strain of paying for accommodation, food and transport here in Bristol is a secondary but constant worry as we enter our second week here, 131 miles from home, friends and family.

I know this is a difficult time of year to make a financial a request from people, with so many of our friends and family already financially stretched due to Christmas and the cost of living crisis but any small contribution will help to support Isabelle's recovery by enabling us to remain at her bedside, providing the care and love that she needs, alongside her clinical team.

We all miss Isabelle's sunny, happy presence in our lives. Her beautiful smile, her little songs, her ability to make anyone and everyone laugh. Her three year old sister is finding it especially hard to be without her best friend at Christmas-time and we're hoping bring her to Bristol to be reunited with her sister once Isabelle has regained consciousness.

Thank you to everyone for your continued support

Milly, Dan, Sophie & Isabelle xx