Routine hospital visit left teenager in a coma
TEENAGER WENT TO HOSPITAL FOR A ROUTINE CHECK-UP AND CAME OUT NEEDING 24-HR CARE
A TEENAGER has been left needing 24-hour care after her heart stopped beating for an hour during a routine hospital examination.
Although Hanna Winiarska’s father Wlad says it is a miracle his 17-year-old daughter is still alive, he is devastated that she can no longer talk or walk.
The family moved from Poland to Llandegfan on Anglesey six years ago and were settling in well to their new home and lives.
Hanna and her younger sister Julia both enrolled at Ysgol David Hughes in Menai Bridge and started picking up Welsh rapidly.
She was a keen gymnast and enjoyed going to a local gymnastics club.
She also spoke often about her dream of her studying to become a doctor when she got older.
In 2015, after being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, Hanna paid regular visits to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool for check-ups.
But in January 2017, when Hanna was just 15, she went to the hospital for an endoscopy and things went horribly wrong.
Wlad, who is a pharmacist, said: “It was the worst day of my life.
“Before she went for the endoscopy, Hanna was smiling and telling the medics that she wanted to become a doctor.”
He continued: “I gave her a kiss and off she went, and I had no worries as she was only having an endoscopy, but minutes later it was like a scene out of the movies when I saw all these people rushing down the corridor into the room where Hanna was.
“A nurse then came over to me and said Hanna didn’t have a pulse.”
Wlad said Hanna was given
CPR for an hour.
“They saved her life and never gave up on her,” said Wlad. “Hanna was given lots of shots of adrenaline, and it really is a miracle she’s still alive, but our lives were destroyed as Hana was left in a coma, unable to walk or talk.”
Wlad describes his daughter as a “fighter” and says despite everything “she always has a smile on her face”.
Now 17, Hanna is receiving intense rehabilitation at The Children’s Trust in Tadworth, Surrey.
Her mother Bogusia stays with her and Wlad and Julia visit as often as they can.
“Things are very hard for Hanna and for us of course as she requires 24-hour care,” said Wlad.
“She cannot speak or walk but she understands everything and always has a smile on her face.”
Wlad added: “My wife is very positive but I find the situation very hard as Hanna had so many dreams.
“Her future is so uncertain, but we did have some good news the other day when Hanna managed to stand unaided for eight seconds for the first time since what happened.”
The family are trying to raise £10,000 to fund rehabilitation and equipment for Hanna to continue with rehabilitation when she gets home to Anglesey.
To donate towards Hanna’s appeal, visit her fundraising page justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ llan2llan