A GIRL from Meliden stood up for the first time since being in a medically-induced coma which her parents were told she might not wake up from after suffering a brain infection.
Isabella “Bella” Calvert, 10, developed sinusitis, a common infection of the sinuses, in late October, but whereas this normally clears up within a few weeks, Isabella’s infection spread to her brain.
She was admitted to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor on October 29, before being transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool that night.
Isabella, who also has autism and is a pupil at Ysgol Clawdd Offa, has been suffering from meningoencephalitis, which causes swelling of the brain.
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Fundraiser set up to help family of Meliden girl, 10, in coma with brain infection
Her mother, Sarah, who runs North Wales Foot Care with husband Michael, said that, on November 8, she and Michael were told Isabella “wouldn't wake up” from her coma, and even if she did, she would “not be Bella” as they knew her before the infection.
But in the last month, Isabella has made extraordinary progress, having stood up for the first time since the infection on Monday (December 5) and sat in a wheelchair for the first time yesterday (December 6).
Sarah said: “Things are much, much better now. She's amazed everybody; she was so quick to start breathing on her own.
“I think the best day was when she first nodded. I wasn't sure what she could and couldn't hear, and Michael was speaking to her, asking her if she loves daddy, and she nodded back.
“She and I really like (TV programme) ‘Trigger Happy TV’, and I told her a joke from the programme, and she started laughing.
“That was the best feeling ever, because I knew she was still in there. It was even better than when she was born; it was just lovely.”
This week, Isabella has been practising sitting up on her own, with the aim to try to get her out of her hospital ward for short periods, at least.
She's having physiotherapy every day, and can now sit up on her own on the side of her hospital bed, as well.
It will take about six months of rehabilitation for her to make a full recovery, Sarah said, but having feared she would lose her just a few weeks ago, she has been hugely encouraged by her progress.
Sarah added: “She's very chilled out about it, but we thought it was absolutely incredible (when she stood up), and were very emotional.
“She has no conception of how long she's been poorly for, but she's just done incredibly well. When the consultant looked at her MRI scan, he said he had to double-check it was the right person because it was so good.
“The surgeon thinks it'll take six months of rehab, but hopefully by then, she'll be pretty much how she was, which is amazing from a few weeks ago, saying that she wasn't going to survive.”
Though Isabella wasn’t talking for about a week-and-a-half after waking up, she began to whisper after a visit from her younger brother, Luca, five.
The following day, Sarah said, her speech returned to normal, while her initial issues with spacial awareness have also since been resolved.
Isabella will begin to try returning to “normal food again” this week, Sarah added, with her mother admitting that’s she’s “desperate for a McDonalds!”.
She’s also enjoying such treatments as occupational and music therapy at Alder Hey, as well as her daily physiotherapy.
Sarah added: “She is herself again, and is making such good progress. Every day, I can see her doing more and more. I'm over the moon.
“I don't feel sad at all; I just feel really thankful that she's still here.
“I can't describe how good Alder Hey have been. Everybody is so incredibly kind and positive, and nothing is too much trouble. I feel like Michael and I have been as well-looked-after as Bella.
“They're looking after her in every way. She's got autism, so they're supporting her through that as well.”
A fundraiser has been set up on GoFundMe by a close friend of the family, Kim Winter, to try to ease some of their financial strains.
It has now surpassed £8,000 in donations, which will help support Sarah and Michael, who are currently not able to work while staying at Ronald McDonald House; “home from home” accommodation situated next to Alder Hey.
To donate, go to: www.gofundme.com/f/sarah-and-michael-calvert.
Luca, meanwhile, is being looked after my Sarah’s parents, who have moved into their Meliden home for the time being, and he is enjoying regular visits to see his big sister.
After fearing the worst just a month ago, Sarah is now full of hope and encouragement that Isabella is on the mend.
She added: “The GoFundMe is incredible. I get a bit emotional when I think about it. It's so lovely.
“At the moment, we can't work, so the money has meant we can be here. It's given us to her when she needed us, so it meant we haven't had to worry about work for this period of time.
“For the foreseeable future, that’s what it will help us to do, as well.
“Luca is doing really well. He's been able to come and see her, and loves visiting her. I think she's brighter when she sees him as well; they'll get in bed and have a cuddle, and watch TV together.
“Her school have also been lovely; Mr Edwards, the headteacher, has been really kind and supportive.
“We're doing really well. It's tiring, but when you come from where we came from, thinking we were going to lose her, anything now just feels incredible.”
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