Elizabeth's Story

Royal Manchester and Booth Hall Children’s Hospitals will be relocated in 2009 to a brand new state-of-the-art children’s hospital in central Manchester. The New Children’s Hospital Appeal, launched in May 2006 will help ensure the new hospital, which will be the biggest children’s hospital in the country providing specialist services to the region’s poorliest children, has equipment and facilities that are second to none. The appeal will focus on two main areas:

Why we need your support...

ElizabethSeventeen year old Elizabeth from Southport’s relationship with Manchester’s Children’s Hospitals began at just eleven months old. Suffering from severe nosebleeds, a swollen tummy, joint pains and a reluctance to eat, Elizabeth was referred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (Pendlebury) with a suspected blood disorder.

Booth Hall and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospitals specialise in Haematology, following blood tests Elizabeth was diagnosed with Myelofibrosis, an increase in the fibrous tissues between the marrow inside her bones.

Between the ages of eleven months and eight years old Elizabeth became a frequent visitor at both hospitals, she frequently had infections, suffered from an enlarged liver and spleen and had problems with her speech. Elizabeth also underwent various blood and platelet transfusions to treat her condition.

At the age of eight she was diagnosed with Lupus a chronic disease affecting the autoimmune system in which the immune system attacks the body affecting healthy cells and tissue. As a result of this she also began to suffer from Nephrotic Syndrome a kidney condition for which she takes daily steroids.

Elizabeth’s kidneys began to be attacked by the antibodies in her system and she was treated with an intensive course of chemotherapy to dampen her immune system to try and prevent the attacks.

The Lupus Elizabeth has is particularly aggressive which makes it very difficult for her to fight infection. She receives treatment every three weeks to restore her immune system and so remains a constant visitor to both children’s hospitals.

She is now seventeen and due to her illness has missed years of school. She receives tuition at home which she enjoys and has delayed her GCSE’s to allow her to catch up in her studies. She also enjoys shopping and helping out in her Nan’s shop.

She is currently awaiting a bone marrow transplant and hopes that this may offer a possible cure for her condition.

Elizabeth knows how important charitable support is to our hospitals and held a ladies night raising over £500 for specialist play equipment and new flooring for one of the playrooms at Booth Hall Children’s Hospital.

Access to the latest equipment for diagnosis and treatment is essential for doctors treating children with chronic conditions like Elizabeth, whilst accommodation to allow families to remain nearby is critical for those who have to travel some distance across the North West to get to our hospitals.

*All details of Elizabeth’s condition and treatments are as described by Elizabeth’s parents.

Elizabeth’s Mum Sue adds:


"Realising that hospitals are scary places for children, the staff at the children’s hospital always do their utmost to provide a friendly and caring service- this treatment is given to both patient and family. This considerate approach from the staff enables small differences that can really take the inconvenience out of chronic illness. We are indebted to the charitable income that supplies facilities that improve our quality of time whilst in hospital. Simply to be able to make yourself a cup of tea or beans on toast, even somewhere to just compose your thoughts makes a huge difference.

Nobody expects their child to be seriously ill, and you never know when it will affect you. Please don’t wait for it to come to your door; please support the new children’s hospital now."