ANSEL & KIDS LIKE HIM
Centre have already proved they are the best in the business in early diagnosis.
Lindsey Orton, 43, spent months begging doctors to help when her daughter Lillie-Mae suffered painful constipation. She visited four hospitals more than 70 times but was repeatedly fobbed off.
It was only when she came to the centre she discovered her daughter had a rare digestive deformity.
Now six-year-old Lillie-Mae, who has a twin brother named Henry, is on a daily dose of
medication. Lindsey, who lives in Rugeley, Staffs, with gas engineer husband Chris, 54, said: “We were failed by four different hospitals but within five minutes of our appointment at Birmingham they diagnosed her.”
Three-year-old Midas Avery was born with Hirschsprung Disease, a condition where a section of the bowels is missing, and has spent much of his short life in hospital.
His mum Kerry Bowen, 37, who lives with his dad Steve and their elder daughter Maia, 13, in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, said: “We’re so fortunate to have this hospital and this new unit. It will change everything for us.”
Jack Powell, 10, was one of the first children in the UK to be diagnosed with cystic fibrosis using “heel prick” blood tests introduced in 2008. Now, after more than a decade of care at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, he has been able to combat his illness – even taking part in jujitsu and karate.
Mum Hayley, 34, who lives with police officer husband Steven, 37, in Walsall, West Midlands, said: “It has been hard but we don’t let him use it as an excuse. He’s a star.” NHS trust chief exec Sarah-Jane Marsh said: “I was incredibly proud to see our worldclass Rare Diseases Centre open its doors. “I want to say a massive ‘thank you’ to every Sunday Mirror reader who donated to our appeal.” Paediatrics expert Prof Tim Barrett added: “We are on the start of an incredible journey with rare diseases and are incredibly thankful to everyone who donated. “Thanks to your generosity, we can use this centre to look after children in the unique and personalised way they deserve.” If you’d like mor info on the hospital and the patients it treats visit www.bch. org.uk dan.warburton@ trinitymirror. com
CLAIRE HAYWARD MUM OF YOUNG PATIENT ANSEL