This is Ella my daughter (if you didn’t know that already!) - check out the photos of her at the school.

She is 11 years old and has severe learning difficulties. She was born with a condition called Sturge-Weber Syndrome and has a port wine stain on the left side of her face (extra blood vessels which also go over her brain) causing epilepsy. Due to the seizures not being controlled by medicine and spending many weeks in Great Ormond Street Hospital at the age of 3 she had brain surgery in order to prevent her seizures causing further problems and endangering her life. She is non-verbal, has a right sided hemiplegia, vision impairment, a leg splint to aid walking and takes daily medication to prevent further seizures. That's what makes her the most courageous and determined person I know!

At the moment she resides at the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy (NCYPE) in Lingfield, where they provide for all her needs. As a family it was a very difficult decision but it was best for her to have 24 hour care with a routine in order to help her develop. We see her every two weeks, speak to her house every day and receive an email from the school teacher as to what she has done during the day so that we still feel a big part of her daily routine. 

NCYPE is a national charity providing specialist services and support for children and young people with epilepsy and other neurological conditions. These include Aspergers, autism and a wide range of learning difficulties from moderate to profound and multiple. (www.ncype.org.uk)

However big or small your donation it will go a long way.