Thumbs up after Sam’s life saving surgery
Ofsted’s glowing praise for Georgie Porgie’s Nursery
SECONDS after coming round from lifesaving surgery, a mum told doctors: “It hurts so I must be alive.”
Brave Samantha Smith then high-fived a medic.
She had travelled from Rochdale to Arizona for the operation to rebuild her neck.
The mum-of-two, from Smithy Bridge near Littleborough, suffers from Ehlers Danlos syndrome (EDS), which weakens the body’s connective tissues causing her spine to be crushed by the weight of her own skull.
Over the past two years, she’s raised £250,000 to travel to The Mayo Clinic in Arizona to have neurosurgery, which is not available on the NHS, to help relieve pressure and stabilise her neck.
As the Observer reported last month, the surgery was cancelled just hours before it was due to go ahead because a payment was blocked by Samantha’s bank.
But she has now undergone the 10-hour procedure and is said to be in ‘good humour’ despite being in considerable amount of ‘pain and discomfort’.
In a message on the Save Samantha Facebook page, Samantha’s dad Phil wrote: “‘It hurts, so I must be alive’.
“Sam’s words whilst her eyes were not yet open and then she high fived the doctor to her left!”
In a video taken from her hospital bed Samantha says: “It’s 4.30am here and I’m feeling positive, so thank you to everybody for your support.”
Samantha flew out to the US with daughter Brooke and son Jensen on January 17.
Her rare genetic condition affects just one in every 5,000 people in the UK.
She underwent years of tests and endured horrendous pain before eventually being diagnosed in 2016.
The mum had started to lose consciousness regularly, vomit blood, and was experiencing chest and head pain and weakness in her limbs.
She was told that she had developed another condition known as Crainocervical Instability (CCI) - which is caused by the EDS.
The CCI is stretching ligaments in her neck making them too weak to support her head. A ROCHDALE nursery where children are said to ‘thrive’ has been hailed as ‘outstanding’ by the education watchdog.
Georgie Porgie’s Nursery, in Kirkholt, has received a glowing report from Ofsted, with inspectors describing it as ‘superbly organised, stimulating and imaginative.’
Manager Gill Felton is praised for leading her team with ‘true inspiration and admirable enthusiasm,’ while staff are said to use ‘exceptionally effective’ teaching methods.
The report states that staff are well qualified and ‘have a superb knowledge of how children learn best and plan exceptionally challenging activities that capture children’s interests.’
They are also said to be extremely caring and sensitive and show genuine affection for the children in their care.
As a result the children display ‘high levels of self-esteem and emotional security in this extremely welcoming, nurturing environment.’
The report continues: “Children thrive and are extremely happy and settle well in this highquality nursery.
“Staff provide children with clear and consistent boundaries and play alongside them which helps to teach them how to share and take turns.”
And it says the behaviour of the children – who are aged between two and four – is ‘exemplary’, adding: “Staff help children to learn about the similarities and differences between people and communities and the wider world.
“Regular walks to the library, shops and building site help children to develop an excellent knowledge of the local community.
The youngsters are said to benefit hugely from their time at the nursery, with all making ‘rapid progress’ with any falling behind quickly given the attention they need to close the gap on their peers.
According to inspectors, ‘children gain an excellent range of skills, abilities and attitudes that help to prepare them extremely well for future learning and school.’
Parents are also said to be ‘fully involved in all aspects of nursery life and are provided with a wealth of information that helps them to support children’s learning at home.’
Sarah Arundel, deputy manager at Georgie Porgie’s, said everyone at the nursery was ‘over the moon’ about the outstanding rating.
She said: “We have worked very hard to get where we are. All the parents are thrilled as well – they said they knew we would get ‘outstanding’ before we got the grading.
“We have had lots of praise from parents, the early years team and lots of professionals – and lots of congratulations from everybody.”