The dad of a little girl hurt in a horror smash with a truck outside her school has today revealed her ongoing agony.
It has now been almost a year since seven-year-old Gracie Atkinson was seriously injured in the incident outside her Newcastle Primary School.
But the brave youngster is still battling to recover from the injuries that have turned her young life upside down.
Today her dad has opened-up on Gracie's ongoing struggles, and the moment he found out what had happened to his daughter.
He said: "When I got the call to say Gracie had been hurt my world was turned upside down. It’s no call any parent wants to receive and it’s something that will stay with me forever.
“Seeing Gracie and her injuries broke my heart. She went from a happy, smiling child who enjoyed playing with her friends to one who spent months in hospital undergoing surgery after surgery. We’re so proud of the fight Gracie shows every day but her injuries have really affected her and we’re not sure what impact they will have on her as she grows."
Gracie had just been picked up from Knop Law Primary School, in Chapel House, when the incident happened, on September 20 last year.
The youngster was involved in a collision with a white DAF tipper truck on Chadderton Drive near the junction with Hillhead Parkway.
She suffered serious injuries, including multiple leg breaks, which resulted in significant skin and muscle loss, as well as a fractured skull.
Gracie was taken to hospital where she underwent multiple operations to pin her legs as well as to carry out skin grafts on a degloving injury which saw skin ripped from her legs.
After 11 weeks in hospital Gracie was discharged to continue her recovery at home with her family.
The skin on her legs remains extremely sensitive and she requires ongoing procedures as well as further surgery in the future, her family says.
Gracie now walks with a limp as her left ankle is immobile and requires a wheelchair for longer journeys. She is also conscious of the appearance of her legs.
“Even though she’s now home and back at school, things aren’t back to normal and may never be," said her dad. "Gracie continues to have regular appointments to review her progress and monitor her scarring and we’ve been advised that she will require further surgeries. Gracie’s injuries will have a lifelong impact on her."
“We’re just an ordinary family who do ordinary things. However, what this incident has shown is that anyone’s life can be changed in a split-second."
Northumbria Police launched an investigation into the collision but concluded the driver involved in the collision had no case to answer.
Gracie's parents have now instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate and help their daughter access the specialist rehabilitation and therapies she needs to make the best recovery she can.
And lawyer, Laura Mcilduff, is now appealing for witnesses to come forward.
She said: “The last few months and coming to terms with devastating and life-changing injuries Gracie suffered have been incredibly hard for not only her but her parents.
“While the emergency services and hospital staff have done a fantastic job in helping Gracie she still faces an uncertain future and many challenges.
“Therefore we’re appealing for anyone who may have more information or footage of the collision, the moments leading up to it or its aftermath, to get in touch. Any detail could be key in helping us secure the ongoing rehabilitation and support Gracie requires to overcome her injuries the best she can and live as independently as possible in the future.”
And Gracie's dad added: “We’d like to thank all of the emergency services and the doctors and nurses for everything they’ve done to help Gracie. We’ll be forever indebted to them. We also can’t thank enough all of those who have sent kind words and messages of support to Gracie following the collision. It means so much to her and us.
“All we want to do is what any parent wants for their child and that’s to provide them with the best life possible. To be able to do that Gracie needs to be able to access the specialist ongoing care and support she needs.
“Therefore we’d be so grateful if anyone had any information about the crash which will allow Gracie to receive that help.”
Anyone with information should contact Laura Mcilduff at Irwin Mitchell on 0191 279 0112 or at Laura.Mcilduff@irwinmitchell.com
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