My nieces daughter Maisie who is 5 years old, has had a heartbreaking time. She was diagnosed with a viral infection in her throat which caused Sepsis, her body went into a Toxic Shock and she also suffered a stroke, she was put into a induced coma and then transferred to Southampton PICU where she spent 15 days, undergoing three operations on her right leg to save her foot due to a blood clot and also having to have kidney dialysis where all her organs started to shut down. Maisie was then transferred to the children’s ward for a further couple of weeks, Maisie is unable to walk for more than ten minutes then she becomes very tired and flanks, she has a leg splint which she has to wear on her right leg due to three operations to save her foot and another splint to wear on her left leg all night and a few hours during the day from the stroke. Maisie also lost 3kg while being in an induced coma and that is a lot of weight for a five year old.

Maisie was loaned a wheelchair by Red Cross but children’s wheelchairs are very few they say, so they were loaned a small adult junior chair which is not supporting her legs and seating position very well and they need to put pillows to support her.

Maisie’s mum Sam has had lots of support and well wishes from her friends and family during this awful time, so we are kindly asking if anyone would please dig deep and if all the friends and family that offered help and support donated as little as a few pounds we would be able to raise enough money to buy Maisie a lovely new child’s wheelchair of her own with the correct support and seat padding. She also needs larger comfortable shoes that can accommodate her splint as she has too wear her splint at all times. Along with the constant travelling to and from Basingstoke to Southampton Hospital for her physio treatment, of which Sam has to rely on family and friends as she doesn't drive herself, this has been a huge worry for my Niece as she is a single mum and also has two other children to care for.

Maisie is doing really well some days with her recovery but this is going to be a long slow process, so let’s all make this journey a more comfortable one for her.

Thank you for taking the time to read Maisie's story.