On Friday 30th November my god daughter Elissa was admitted to Scarborough Hospital. Just days before she had a sore throat and swollen glands, this quickly escalated to her losing control of her legs. After numerous tests including a lumber puncture she was quickly diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS). GBS is a rare but serious auto immune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy nerve cells in your peripheral nervous system.

Elissa is currently bed bound, she has very little movement, control and feeling in her body and has lost movement on half of her face. She is temporarily paralysed and in the high dependency unit of the hospital as there is concern that the syndrome may affect her ability to breathe on her own as it spreads. It is a very frightening time for her family and friends and currently they are just facing things a day at a time.

Elissa is a bright, beautful healthy young girl. A former All Saints pupil she achieved great GCSE's just this Summer. Since September she has been enjoying studying maths and enginerring at Scarborough UTC College.

The eldest of 5 children, Elissa is struggling with being away from her family. Her parents Laura and Matt are by her side as much as possible. Elissa will be in hospital in Christmas day

A long recovery is ahead. The aim of this fundraiser is to make Elissas home as accessible as possible when she is eventually discharged and to help with travel expenses so her family can be by her side as much as possible. Elissa will need a stair lift to access her home, adaption made to the bathroom and her bedroom, a high bed (to match the height of a wheel chair) so that she can make steps towards being independent at home.