Miracle schoolgirl Caitlin will be TV’s voice of Demelza
‘I felt like I was speaking on behalf of all the other children’
Caitlin Goodsell was born with so many so many holes in her heart that doctors were amazed she survived birth.
But after defying all the odds, the Maidstone schoolgirl, now aged 11, is fronting a TV advert in a bid to help the charity which has supported her and her family.
The Cornwallis Academy pupil recites a poem during a 30-second regional commercial, set to air in February, promoting the work of Demelza Hospice Care for Children.
It was made possible thanks to Swale Heating donating £26,000 of its own airtime to the charity, which provides care to seriously ill babies, children and young people in the South East.
Caitlin’s parents were first introduced to Demelza, based in Bobbing near Sittingbourne, 10 years ago when the hospice lent them a machine to help them feed their daughter – something they previously had to do using a gastric tube. Mum Ingrid said: “It was life-changing for us. We were on our knees.
“Although we had heard of Demelza, we thought it was for end-of-life care. We never envisaged we would need their help.”
Caitlin, from Kingswood, had endured six major bouts of heart surgery and several other operations by the age of four, at which point she suffered a stroke.
Mrs Goodsell said: “She lost her speech and movement in her right leg. It was one of our worst days ever. She just looked at us with her big, sad eyes. I felt so helpless. I didn’t know what to do. But the doctors said: ‘Just keep talking to her’ – and eventually her speech returned.”
Today, Caitlin uses a wheelchair but remains determined to lead a normal life and enjoys riding, swimming, drama, and spending time at Demelza.
Following the recording, the youngster said: “It was brilliant to be asked to be the voice for Demelza, even though I was really nervous. I felt like I was speaking out on behalf of all the other children, which was a real privilege.”