On Tuesday 09 May 2017 Maddy was at work at the racing stables, a job which she loves. Getting paid to work with horses? She was in heaven! She had recently graduated from the Northern Racing College and was now working in a job she loved.

The following day she was feeling a bit sick with aching joints and by the early hours of Thursday 11 May she was in the Intensive Care Unit of Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia. She was intubated and fighting for her life. The hospital could make no promises to her parents, other than they would do their best but, privately, nobody thought that she would survive.

Today (20/05/2017) she is still in ICU. She is weak and has fluid on her lungs but she is now conscious and is able to eat and drink again.

Has she beaten this horrible bacterial infection? Not yet but she is getting there, although she has a long, tough road ahead of her.

When she gets back home she will be cared for by her parents, both of whom are qualified paediatric nurses who have cared for other people's children for years, and her three brothers but, although the family are rich in love, they are by no means millionaires. Her mum, Ali, recently gave up nursing and became a foster carer but she will be unable to do that whilst she cares for her beautiful girl because this infection does not leave quietly!

This horrible infection has left Maddy with necrosis to her extremities which can only be resolved by amputation which will change her life for ever.

Maddy is a fighter and WILL beat this and come out the other end just as strong, bright and bubbly as she was two weeks ago but, although she is surrounded by love and positive thoughts, these do not pay the bills, nor do they make any adaptions to the house that she will need.

Every pound received will be spent on giving Maddy back her independence and helping the family to make ends meet whilst they nurse her back to full health