APPLES with mayonnaise is one example of what a young girl ate to raise money for a hospital that cared for her brother after his rare spinal disease diagnosis.
Ten-year-old Jessie Atkins-Bromley raised more than £730 for the Oxford Children’s Hospital where her two-year-old brother had surgery in February for Tethered Cord Syndrome.
She wanted to eat “crazy” food combinations and foods she didn’t like to thank the staff for their “incredible care”.
READ MORE: "Making art helps manage the pain of my chronic illness more than medication"
Her mother Lauren Atkins, who lives with her partner William Bromley in Cholsey, said the pair are so proud of Jessie following a difficult time in their lives.
She said: “Charlie was born with a sacral dimple and it was flagged up at the hospital when he was born but nothing really came of it.
“But from when Charlie was a week old, he suffered really bad with constipation and just before he turned one, I went to my health visitor who said it could be linked to Tethered Cord Syndrome.”
Tethered Cord Syndrome is a rare a neurological condition where the spinal cord is attached to the surrounding tissues of the spine.
After Charlie’s diagnosis in October 2021, he was offered a surgery to detether the spinal cord.
READ MORE: "I'm trying to help women like me in crippling pain with uncertain futures and no cure"
Miss Atkins said: “It was a very long day. He was gone for about seven hours as his nerves were all tangled which made it complex but the surgeon is confident he has solved the issue.
“He also had two vertebrae removed. It was tough because of the covid restrictions but the staff were amazing and offered such an incredible level of care.
“He’s amazing now. He's got a scar that I’m sure he’ll love to show off when he’s older. He was bouncing off the walls when he was home, I just wanted to bubble wrap him.”
Jessie wanted to thank the staff and hoped to raise £200. People who donated recommended things for her to eat.
She tried brussel sprouts, black olives, chilli crisps with Nutella, and spam. Miss Atkins added: “Her worst was a bounty chocolate bar – she found it criminal.
READ MORE: Woman says diagnosis stops her having a relationship because of pain and anxiety
“But she did so well and she’s so happy. She’s such a shy little girl and it’s amazing that she’s done it and gone out of her comfort zone.
“She was amazing throughout the surgery, she stayed with my mum as we had to self-isolate and we didn’t want her to miss out on things.
“She burst out crying the first night at home and said she had so many big feelings. She did so well and was so good with Charlie.”
-
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok
Got a story for us? Send us your news and pictures here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here