Matilda, Five Year Girl with Polka Dot Skin
Matilda, Five Year Girl with Polka Dot Skin
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LONDON - Sad to see diseases that afflict this little girl. A rare diseases afflict girl from Lancashire, England. A five year old girl is battling a bizarre condition that causes polka dot spots to form all over her face.
Matilda Callaghan (5) suffers from Sturge Weber Syndrome (SWS). A rare neurological and skin disorder that causes purple spots to cover her face and the right side of her body. If uncontrolled, the condition it could spread to her mouth, teeth, internal organs and even her brain. And without treatment, the spots could bubble, bulge and cause serious internal damage.
As a result, Matilda has treatment using a specialist laser every six weeks at Alder Hey Children's Hospital to remove them. Alongside SWS, Matilda also suffers from glaucoma (which can cause blindness), epilepsy, heart and digestion problems. She was born with two holes in her heart, a pouch in her throat and has undergone over 30 operations.
She can only say 'mummy' and 'daddy', 'yes' and 'no,' and communicates with gestures such as tapping her chin for a drink. Paralysis and seizures caused by SWS have limited her mobility and her limbs are also out of proportion, meaning she cannot walk.
Her family were desperately fundraising to buy the wheelchair they say can change her life, by giving her more mobility and freedom. The device which would best suit her needs is £5,000 - but the NHS will only allocate so much, claims her father Paul, 48.
"We want to be able to take her for walks in the countryside - we like to get out as much as we can. We don't have a lot of money, so we can't afford it or get away on holidays, that's our escape," he said as reported Daily Mail.
He explained how Matilda, who cannot see very well, enjoys the countryside here it is calm, and loves going on swings. Yesterday, her delighted parents, Paul and Rebecca (pictured), announced the fundraising target to get Matilda a new wheelchair had been smashed.
Callaghan, who works in civil engineering, and lives in Leigh, Lancashire, with wife, Rebecca, 44, Matilda's full-time carer, added: 'Sometimes you can feel trapped in your own environment.
"It's a massive strain on us as a family, we only have Matilda so we don't know anything different. Her chair is on order and she should hopefully get it in about 6 weeks. Can't wait to post pictures of her in it," he said.
Her father said recently he is optimistic about the future. He added that thanks to help from family, friends and medical staff, she had completely transformed.
"We are unbelievably proud of Matilda, she is just amazing," he said.
Matilda Callaghan (5) suffers from Sturge Weber Syndrome (SWS). A rare neurological and skin disorder that causes purple spots to cover her face and the right side of her body. If uncontrolled, the condition it could spread to her mouth, teeth, internal organs and even her brain. And without treatment, the spots could bubble, bulge and cause serious internal damage.
As a result, Matilda has treatment using a specialist laser every six weeks at Alder Hey Children's Hospital to remove them. Alongside SWS, Matilda also suffers from glaucoma (which can cause blindness), epilepsy, heart and digestion problems. She was born with two holes in her heart, a pouch in her throat and has undergone over 30 operations.
She can only say 'mummy' and 'daddy', 'yes' and 'no,' and communicates with gestures such as tapping her chin for a drink. Paralysis and seizures caused by SWS have limited her mobility and her limbs are also out of proportion, meaning she cannot walk.
Her family were desperately fundraising to buy the wheelchair they say can change her life, by giving her more mobility and freedom. The device which would best suit her needs is £5,000 - but the NHS will only allocate so much, claims her father Paul, 48.
"We want to be able to take her for walks in the countryside - we like to get out as much as we can. We don't have a lot of money, so we can't afford it or get away on holidays, that's our escape," he said as reported Daily Mail.
He explained how Matilda, who cannot see very well, enjoys the countryside here it is calm, and loves going on swings. Yesterday, her delighted parents, Paul and Rebecca (pictured), announced the fundraising target to get Matilda a new wheelchair had been smashed.
Callaghan, who works in civil engineering, and lives in Leigh, Lancashire, with wife, Rebecca, 44, Matilda's full-time carer, added: 'Sometimes you can feel trapped in your own environment.
"It's a massive strain on us as a family, we only have Matilda so we don't know anything different. Her chair is on order and she should hopefully get it in about 6 weeks. Can't wait to post pictures of her in it," he said.
Her father said recently he is optimistic about the future. He added that thanks to help from family, friends and medical staff, she had completely transformed.
"We are unbelievably proud of Matilda, she is just amazing," he said.
(rnz)
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