A seven-year-old girl, who spent Christmas Day in hospital after a suspected ear infection turned out to be a severe blood clot on her brain, is now urging people to support the medics that saved her life. Amelia Talbot was rushed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital on Christmas Eve for emergency surgery.
Initially diagnosed with an ear infection in early December 2023, the antibiotics prescribed failed to alleviate her symptoms. As her condition deteriorated and her right eye began turning inwards, her parents took her to their local hospital.
Scans revealed a “severe” blood clot on her right venous sinus, a major drainage pathway in the brain. Amelia underwent surgery on Christmas Eve morning. The procedure involved drilling into her skull behind her ear to relieve pressure on her brain and remove the clot, along with a lumbar puncture. Amelia’s mum Zara said the NHS surgeon who treated her had “never seen a case like [Amelia’s] in 30 years”.
“The whole ordeal was so scary and a complete whirlwind for us,” the mum said. “We hadn’t had time to catch our breath, let alone think about being in the hospital over Christmas. We were just so focused on Amelia.”
Amelia’s health has seen a remarkable improvement a year after her ordeal, and she is incredibly thankful for the exceptional care provided by Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Despite the challenging circumstances, the hospital staff made sure Amelia and her family had a memorable Christmas, complete with a sack of donated gifts and a traditional festive meal, reports BirminghamLive.
Now, her family is championing the cause of the Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, encouraging public support to bring holiday cheer to other children who must spend their Christmas in the hospital.
Mum Zara said: “This wasn’t the Christmas we envisaged but we were so thankful to everyone at the hospital and charity for helping to make it special for us. I’d urge others to donate to the hospital if they can, to support the kids spending Christmas there.”
Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at the NHS trust, said: “Being in hospital with your child over Christmas is the stuff of nightmares but for Amelia’s family it was a nightmare come true. While we can’t always ease the worry for families staying with us, with the help of the public, donations to our charity help to ensure all our children get to experience some of the magic of the festive season, so they don’t miss out.”
