Nobody knows the pain she’s been through

Sep 4 2008 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

TODDLER Ella Noon – who had a liver transplant earlier this year – is celebrating her third birthday on Sunday with a big party.

Ella, described by her mum Andrea as her “red-haired little fighter”, was diagnosed with liver disease five weeks after she was born.

On June 3 she had a liver transplant at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The operation took nine hours but the worry was far from over. Nine days later, Ella was rushed into intensive care with a serious infection.

Although not out of the woods yet, the future is starting to look a lot brighter for the brave little girl.

Andrea, who currently lives in Kinmel Bay but hopes to move to Rhos-on- Sea to be closer to her parents, said: “This Sunday all her little friends from playgroup, whom Ella hasn’t seen for a long time, will be going to her party at Afon Conwy.

“She’s doing really well although we had to go back to the hospital in Birmingham yesterday as Ella had pulled out her drain.

“We’ve bought her a kitten and she got so excited that the drain came out!”

Since the operation Andrea has noticed Ella has grown massively in confidence.

“She’s also got a lot more energy now and able to concentrate more. Before she would sit and squirm because she’d be itching all the time.

“Now she waves at people walking by and generally acts a lot more like a normal, happy child. Her hair has grown, her stomach is no longer distended and we had to cut her nails for the first time too!

“These are all signs that she’s a lot healthier. I admit I shed a few tears the other day because we took her to a party for the first time in ages and Ella’s face just lit up when she spotted the bouncy castle.

“Nobody knows the pain she has been through, or what it’s like for her family to go through this unless they’ve been through it themselves.”

Ella’s father Paul has just completed the Tough Guy Challenge, which involves running through fire, underwater tunnels, electric fences and masses of mud. This year only 2,500 of the 5,000 competitors conquered the course.

“Paul raised £250 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and next year I’m determined to do it to raise money for T Gobaith children’s hospice, as Ella goes there for respite care.”

mari.jones