A NI teen has been granted a special wish after being placed on life and support and given a slim chance of survival.
16-year-old Nicole Hamilton from Co Antrim fought for her life at Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and now suffers from PTSD after her heart-breaking experience.
She contracted a life-threatening illness caused by severe infection which was complicated by Covid in March 2021.
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One of her doctors said that 'she was the sickest child, that lived, that he’d ever treated'.
Then aged 15, Nicole fell ill with flu-like symptoms and despite being prescribed two different courses of antibiotics, her condition continued to rapidly deteriorate.
Her mum Carole, 40, said: "I was working from home and all I could hear, all day long, was her coughing.
"I knew something wasn’t right."
After two visits to A&E, Nicole was admitted to hospital. Unable to swallow, she was placed on an IV drip as doctors sought to determine the cause of her illness.
Carole added: "We knew she was getting sicker and sicker – the antibiotics weren’t working.
"Her infection markers were through the roof. It was at this point that the doctors agreed to do more scans."
A CT scan detected an abscess on Nicole’s throat and the teenager was rushed to surgery.
"I thought, okay that’s it now, they’ll sort the abscess then she’ll be fine.
"But that wasn’t to be," her mum continued.
Despite the surgery, Nicole’s condition continued to deteriorate and she was placed on a ventilator.
It was then confirmed that Nicole had contracted Covid-19 and so had her mum.
Carole said: "My husband took over and never left Nicole’s side. Even when I got better, only one of us could be there for Nicole at any one time, so I had to just sit at home staring at the phone. It was very isolating and I didn’t know what to do with myself – I couldn’t think, couldn’t eat, I could barely move."
Doctors had diagnosed Nicole with lung necrosis, mediastinitis, pericardial effusion and emphysema.
"They’d never seen anything like it in a child in her age.
"The infection had taken over her entire body. Her lungs, heart and chest cavity was full of fluid," Carole said.
Nicole was placed on life support, and heartbreakingly was given a slim chance of survival.
"I could never describe the feeling – when something like that happens to your family
"‘There’s nothing like the fear, the panic that takes over. Just talking about it brings up that paralysing fear. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy," the Co Antrim mum added.
Fortunately, Nicole began to show signs of improvement and was transferred to the Belvoir Ward in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children for another two months.
She was referred to the wish-granting charity Make-A-Wish UK, which grants wishes for children aged 3-17 facing life-limiting or life-threatening illness.
Now in recovery, Nicole was granted her wish for a day of ‘pure luxury’ by the charity, with a bespoke shopping experience at Victoria Square in Belfast.
Throughout NI, another 36 children are living with a critical condition and still waiting for their wish to come true. On World Wish Day on April 29, Make-A-Wish UK is appealing for donations in order to grant more wishes for children like Nicole.
Carole said: "At first Nicole thought she didn’t deserve a wish.
"She kept saying 'there are other children much sicker than me'. Consultants had to sit her down and tell her just how poorly she’d been. One of her doctors said that she was the sickest child, that lived, that he’d ever treated."
Nicole eventually chose a shopping spree wish, to be enjoyed with her whole family.
"She was so anxious in the run up to Easter this year.
"She struggles with PTSD from what happened and has awful flashbacks. Her wish gave her something to focus on and look forward to. The anticipation was part of the magic of the wish," Carole added.
Jason Suckley, Chief Executive at Make-A-Wish UK, said: "When a child like Nicole becomes critically ill, the joy of childhood is brought to an abrupt end with treatment plans, appointments and worry taking over. The power of a wish helps to revive that childhood, giving young people like Nicole the opportunity to feel pampered and special for the day, creating memories with their family and without worry."
Nicole, her parents and younger siblings were collected at 10am on Friday, April 15 by a surprise limousine which drove them to Victoria Square.
The 16-year-old was whisked away by the centre manager for a makeover at Charlotte Tilbury, before enjoying a private personal shopping experience.
Carole said: "‘She smiled the entire day.
"It was all lovely designer clothing – things she’d never buy herself. She felt like royalty. It was pure luxury. She just loved every single minute of it - it was incredible to see her smile after everything she’s been through."
Jason Suckley added: "‘We’re delighted to have granted Nicole’s wish after a such horrendous ordeal. Throughout Northern Ireland, another 36 children just like Nicole are living with a critical condition and still waiting for their wish to come true. We believe that they’ve waited long enough."
Although Nicole’s lungs remain affected by her illness, and she may have life-long after-effects, she and her family try to focus on the positive and take it one day at a time.
"Nicole’s wish was a huge confidence boost", her mum explained.
"It has helped her change her way of thinking about her illness, because now she has something positive associated with it. It wasn’t just a shopping spree – it meant so much more than that. As a family, we’ll never, ever forget it."
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