Sponsored by
Leeds Children's Hospital in appeal to public
Healthcare facilities for children in Leeds are now among the best in the country with the opening of the city's Children's Hospital.
The wards are ready – but now they need child-friendly decor as well as state-of-the-art additional equipment. Katie Baldwin reports.
She has made an amazing recovery from a catalogue of horrific injuries.
When Jade Newsome was rushed into hospital after being hit by a car, medics prepared her parents for the worst.
They couldn't say how badly she'd be affected by the severe head injuries she had suffered.
But after spending three weeks in a coma and three months in hospital, she is now back home.
* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from your YEP.
Her mum Joanne said: "Jade has just totally amazed us."
On June 4, the 11-year-old was hit by a car near her home in Birstall as she crossed a road to go swimming.
She was rushed to Dewsbury District Hospital then transferred to Leeds General Infirmary.
* Click here to follow the YEP on Twitter.
Her mum said: "She had an MRI scan which showed she had a bleed on her
brain, a fractured skull, fractured cheekbone and a fractured collar bone."
She was unconscious and doctors put her into an induced coma.
Her dad Paul added: "They basically sat us down and said 'We have no idea what she's going to be like' – they prepared us for the worst."
The youngster spent three weeks in intensive care before she was able to be brought out of the coma.
On a ward she initially had to be cared for on the floor as she was thrashing around so much while coming out of the coma.
Jade had a tracheostomy – a tube in her throat – for a time, and even had her 12th birthday while in hospital.
Her stay was incredibly tough for the whole family, including Jade's brother Liam who was sitting his GCSEs.
With constant physiotherapy, as well as occupational therapy and speech
and language therapy, Jade was well enough to come home three weeks ago.
She is still attending school at the LGI but hoping to get back to Bruntcliffe High School in Morley soon.
Joanne said: "The long-term picture is really unknown, they are not sure what Jade will be left with due to the head injury. But they were amazed with Jade's recovery.
"The physios loved her because she did what they asked. She put in so much effort."
Now the youngster is continuing with physio at home and should be able to walk further soon.
Her parents said they were thrilled to have their daughter back – even if she is a little different.
Joanne added: "She has had a bit of a personality transplant. She was a
lot quieter and a bit more reserved, now she's cheeky."
Jade and her family are now backing the Leeds Children's Hospital Appeal, a drive to raise funds to brighten up wards and facilities at LGI.
Fundraisers want to provide a camp bed for every parent, more toys, DVD players, furnishing for parents' rooms and murals for plain walls.
Joanne said the staff at the hospital were "amazing" and Jade had become very attached to them, but the appeal would provide much-needed environmental improvements.
"Ward 48 needs brightening up, needs painting and needs colour. They so desperately need it done."
Scores of parents and children watched as hundreds of balloons flew into the sky at the launch of the appeal at the LGI.
Consultant paediatric surgeon David Crabbe told guests, including dignitaries and hospital bosses, they also wanted to buy extra cutting edge equipment for the new children's hospital – which has been created by centralising children's services at the LGI.
"What we need, with your help, is to purchase an operating theatre designed for keyhole surgery in babies and children," he said.
Dr Eric Finlay, consultant in paediatric nephrology, said: "We are entering a very difficult phase for public sector services.
"Now it's more important than ever for Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Charitable Foundation to draw on funds to keep patient care at the forefront now and in future."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
