A girl had part of her skull sewn into her stomach in one of a number of brain surgeries after falling unexpectedly ill.
Isabella Calvert had experienced headaches for around two weeks and doctors first thought she could have a sinus infection. On October 30 parents Michael and Sarah found the 10-year-old was very warm so were advised by NHS 111 to take her to Bangor Hospital.
At first no one was too concerned about Isabella's condition - but a CT scan showed there was an extraordinary amount of pressure around her brain. She was induced into a coma and rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital where she has remained since.
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Isabella, known as 'Bella' to her family and friends, was described by family friend Kim Winter as "very sweet, kind and lovely". Since the 10-year-old was admitted to Alder Hey nearly two weeks ago she has had a number of "difficult and invasive surgeries".
Kim said the 10-year-old had her brain drained as well as having a piece of her skull removed and sewn into her stomach to contend with the extreme swelling. Kim, who went to school with mum Sarah, said the parents were staying in Alder Hey's Ronald McDonald House to be close to their daughter. Isabella's younger brother Luca, five, is staying with his grandparents.
Kim told the ECHO : "There have been lots of moments where Sarah and Mike have been prepared by medical teams for the worst. There have been lots of dark moments but we've been struck by how strong they are.
"They're trying to be positive and have a huge support network so maybe they've drawn from that. We're all in awe of them."
Both Sarah and Michael are self-employed so Kim has set up a fundraiser to support them while they remain at Alder Hey. Kim, who lives in Tunbridge Wells, said: "I am setting up this fundraising to try and ease some of the financial pressures Sarah and Mike will face in the coming months. Bella is very sick - and Sarah and Mike need to be by her bedside, holding her hand and not worrying about paying the mortgage."
Kim said on Friday Isabella opened her eyes for the first time since she fell ill - and reacted to her dad saying her name. She added: "There is still a very long road of recovery ahead for Bella and the rest of the family but that was excellent news."
You can donate to the Calvert family's fundraising page here.
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