top of page

MY STORY

Hi my name is Lucie 



I was born on the 24th July 2010 at Chelsea & Westminster hospital 3.5 months earlier than expected and weighing just 985g (2 lb), I would have fitted in the palm of Mummy's hand.

​

I was immediately admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where I spent the next 4 months. 



Within the first week I developed Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) which created holes in my bowel and I therefore needed emergency bowel surgery to remove the bad parts. Thanks to the amazing surgeons the operation went well.



However after a couple of weeks I developed a really bad infection and my whole body started to swell up, this meant the wound on my stomach opened up and I needed to be rushed for emergency surgery again. This operation wasn't as straight forward as I was very ill and it had to be cut short as I was losing a lot of blood. 



The next few days must have been very difficult for Mummy and Daddy there wasn't much more the consultants could do and it was now up to me to fight off the infection. Mummy and Daddy stayed the next few nights at the hospital to look after me which definitely helped me to get better and get rid of the nasty infection. 



I was now in a more stable condition but ï»¿there was still a long way to go. 



I was still on a ventilator and my breathing was very poor, this was not helped by the pneumothoraces that I kept developing. This is where oxygen builds up on the outside of the lungs making it hard to breath. I had 12 in total, I think it is still a record for Chelsea & Westminster!



As I was being heavily ventilated the doctors were getting worried about my eyes as I had developed Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) an eye disease often cause by high levels of oxygen in the blood and something that can cause permanent damage if it isn't stopped.

​

 

​

 

It was therefore decided at 2am in the morning that I need to have laser surgery on both eyes to stop the disease spreading further and I was rushed by ambulance to Queen Charlotte's hospital. The operation was a success and whilst I probably won't be a fighter pilot my eye sight is very good now.

​

​After a short recovery I was taken back to the NICU at Chelsea & Westminster. 



I still had one more operation to go as I needed corrective surgery from my earlier bowel operation. As I was now a lot more stable the surgeons decided that it was a good time and after another 5 hours operation I was back on NICU recovering. 



After about 4 months I was moved out of the intensive care unit and I was able to sleep in a cot for the first time, I was getting stronger everyday and it wouldn't be long before I was allowed home. I was discharged from Chelsea & Westminster on the 4th December just in time to spend Christmas at home with my family.



It wasn't until just after my 1st birthday that I went back to the hospital for a developmental check that the doctor realised that my arms and legs weren't working as they should and I was diagnosed with Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy. 



Even after everything that had happened before this still came as a big shock for Mummy and Daddy.



I am now very bright happy little girl although I am still not able to walk or sit on my own, although I am sure that with all the care and support I am getting I will be able to soon. 



I love doing all of the fun things my friends do but in order to do this I need a lot of specialist equipment and care and that's why my Mummy and Daddy have setup this trust, to enable me to be as independent as every other little girl.  



So thank you to everyone that has contributed or helped raise money, as it continues it put a big smile on my face. Love Lucie x



 

© 2013 by LITTLE LEGENDS

bottom of page