Our local salon, Beauty 154, hosted their annual winter soiree in Lancaster raising money for the Royal Preston Hospital’s Neurological Rehabilitation Unit to help them build a garden 🌿 and purchase specialist equipment as a thank you for supporting Lucy 💗.

🌟UPDATE🌟: I am thrilled to announce that Lucy was discharged from the neuro-rehab unit on Wednesday 12th December 2018 after 161 days in hospital. She is looking forward to spending the festive period at home with her family.

Here’s the story which details how wonderful this unit has been to Lucy:

"Lucy arrived at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary’s A&E department presenting with migraine symptoms on Wednesday 4th July 2018. A CT scan revealed a blockage in her 4th ventricle and she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid putting excess pressure on the brain, which if left untreated can be fatal. On Thursday 5th July 2018 she was blue-lighted by emergency ambulance to the Royal Preston Hospital where she was admitted to their Critical Care Unit in a very unstable condition. A further MRI scan showed a Grade 1 Chiari Malformation, where the lower part of the brain extends into the spinal canal, putting pressure on the brainstem, spinal cord and obstructing the flow of fluid. On Friday 13th July 2018 Lucy received decompression surgery where surgeons removed a small piece of bone from the base of her skull reducing the pressure on her brain and allowing the fluid in and around her brain and spinal chord to flow normally.

Lucy remained in a critical but stable condition in the CCU for 3 weeks, moving to 2 different neurological wards and eventually securing a bed in the Neurological Rehabilitation Unit on Tuesday 21st August 2018. The NRU is a specially commissioned regional 25 bed specialist centre for people with highly complex brain injuries and other neurological conditions. On admission to the NRU Lucy had lost some muscle function, her ability to cough and swallow was weakened from her injury and being on a ventilator and she was unable to sit, stand or walk. She participates in a weekly timetable of speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, core exercises and physio therapy to build her muscles and improve her core strength and motor skills.

During her time at the unit Lucy is making excellent progress and has been discharged from speech and language therapy as she is now able to breathe normally, swallow and cough and is eating normal foods after having a nasal-gastro feeding tube for over 12 weeks. She is able to move from lying down to sitting and standing, is able to move herself around the unit in her wheelchair and is practising her standing and walking with her therapists. All the ward staff and therapists agree Lucy works hard and is very motivated to achieve her targets and goals."