Hey! Thank you for visiting our Just Giving page!

So, just to give you a little insight as to why we are raising money for The Walton Centre...

On boxing day 2000: I was 7 years old, I collapsed, suffering from a severe headache, nausea, neck stifness and an inability to move my limbs. Despite obvious signs of something being seriously wrong and having found blood in my spinal fluid following a lumber puncture, doctors at my local hospital (not Walton), discharged me with tonsillitis without a CT scan. Life went on as normal.

2004: I was 11 years old and whilst at school I began to suffer with a severe headache. My parents took my to the GP who sent me home saying that there was nothing in particular to worry about. Six hours later, I collapsed and was taken to the same local hospital. After two weeks being treated as a suspected meningitis case, a consultant (from the Walton Centre) who was on a visiting round was concerned with my condition and sent me down for an emergency CT scan. It was revealed that I had a 5cm by 5cm Brain Arteriovenus Malformation in the central cortex of my brain, near to the brain stem. Following a lumbar puncture, it was confirmed that I had suffered two subarachnoid brain haemorrhage's – one in 2000 which was missed, and one in 2004.

Being diagnosed at 11, I wasn't really able to comprehend what had happened or the seriousness of the situation - The Walton Centre worked alongside Alderhey Children's hospital (where I was being looked after at the time) to explain things to me. I don't remember too much of being sick, but I remember waking up and not being able to use my legs - the nurse wheeled me down to the children's play area and sat with me for hours whilst my parents slept. She made posters with me to celebrate the New Year that I had missed, and told me that I was going to get better soon. People like that are the reason that I wasn't so scared, and the reason that I want to do this.

From then on, Walton oversaw my care and once I was fit enough I was sent for Stereotactic Gamma Knife Radiosurgery at Sheffield. After the treatment you are monitored once to twice every year and I went to Walton for all my Cerebral angiograms. The waiting list for an angiogram is longer if you wait until you are able to be asleep during the procedure, so I did and always have opted to be awake. I remember  my first scan and a student radiographer held my hand for the entire time. Last year, whilst I was having another routine angio, the same student radiographer was actually taking the images and said "I recognise you - bravest 11 year old I've ever met!" - it's for people like this, people who care enough to remember that I want to do this.

June 2010: I was 16 and it was the day before the prom - having had my nails and tan done with a friend in the morning I was in the shower. I remember experiencing a sudden sharp pain which I can only describe it as having someone hit me on the back of the head with a shovel. I collapsed. Before losing consciousness - I asked my mum to touch my feet to see if I could feel them - I couldn't. This is the last thing I can properly remember, before looking down at my hands and seeing that my acrylic nails had grown out and that my tan was patchy where my tubes and drips had been - I don't think I've ever cried as much as when my mum told me I'd missed prom. This was my third subarachnoid brain haemorrhage. During this time I had undergone emergency endovascular surgery and was in hospital for a period of time. I had lost the ability to walk properly, to see properly and even basic functions we take for granted every day such as going to the loo. It seemed as though my brain just did not want to work the way that it should have, and I was warned that 50 percent of people who survive a subarachnoid haemorrhage, suffer permanent and significant disability.

Despite this, the Walton Centre helped me to walk properly with physiotherapy sessions, ophthalmic consultants helped me with my vision and eventually after a few months, I was nearly back to my normal self - I even began college in September. Following this, I underwent my second attempt at Stereotactic Gamma Knife Radiosurgery and whilst this has shrunk the AVM it has not yet been obliterated. Treating my AVM has been difficult as it is large and is close to the important parts of my brain (ruling out open brain surgery), but The Walton Centre are monitoring me and helping me find the best way forward.

This hospital have saved my life defying all odds, and have helped me get back to being me. Without them, there is no way I could have completed A levels, gone to university and be living my life independently in London. I owe everything that I am to them - they have not only given me my life, but perspective and faith in people. I am sure that one day, they'll be the reason that I get the 'all clear.'

All the staff are phenomenal - the nurses truly care, the doctors are masterminds and the canteen staff brighten up long days with great bacon sandwiches. So I know that for most of you, the extent of my journey was unknown until now, but I thought it was about time I shared this with you in the hope that you'll dig deep and sponsor us. This way, The Walton Centre can continue to provide their excellent care to people who really need it. After all, they are the only the only specialist neurosciences NHS trust in the country which in itself is pretty impressive!

Just as an end note, I just want to mention my family who have been brilliant in supporting me throughout everything. Especially my lovely mum, who has been just incredible and I could not have done any of this without her. Also, thank you to my wonderful boyfriend and lovely friends who are running miles and miles to support me - you are fabulous.

So, there it all is! Please donate whatever you can, and share if you like!

Thank you very much, Ellie xxxx