Hannah THORPE  xxx -     "KEEP THE MAGIC ALIVE"

Great Ormond Street Hospital opened on Valentines Day 1852 and is a hospital for sick children. The hospital provides inspirational and world class care to hundreds of children every day...but they need to raise over £50million every year to help "keep the magic alive". Their motto is "The Child First and Always".

Hannah, daughter of John THORPE, was born in March 2008 with imperfections to her lower spinal cord and was referred from her local hospital to Great Ormond Street Hospital a few months after birth. Hannah was diagnosed with having a complex "Lumbosacral Lipomyelocele" with an associated low lying spinal cord. This means....Hannah has a lipoma (fatty mass) entangled up with the lower part of her spinal cord. This needs to be constantly monitored as problems could arise below her waist (bladder/kidneys/legs/feet) as she grows.

Hannahs foot posture posed a problem when she began to stand and walk and it was believed that the lipoma may have been causing pressure on the nerves leading down to her feet. It now transpires that the nerves are damaged which control the muscles in her feet which affects the way she stands and walks.

Hannah had a tract (small opening) in her lower back which lead through her back and into the Lipoma. The decision was made to attempt to debulk the lipoma and untether the spinal cord. This operation took place just prior to Christmas (December 2009). Hannah was extremely brave...not really understanding what was going on but keeping a smile on her face nonetheless.

Hannah will be under the care of Great Ormond Street for the entire time she is a child needing monitoring of her kidneys, bladder, feet, legs. It is unknown whether Hannah will develop more problems or not at present due to her condition. It all depends what happens when she grows. She is currently receiving physiotherapy for her feet and wears special supports to help with her feet posture.

Like Hannah...many many children benefit extraordinarily from the expertise and magic Great Ormond Street offers.

                        With donations many more children will continue to benefit

         To keep up to date with the ride visit blog:jog2landsend (www.copperonabike4life.com/wordpress)

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