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Courageous girl from Aylesbury who is fed through a tube is a real class act
BRAVE Ella Campbell, who struggles to eat food which isn’t fed through a tube, has a big smile on her face as she sets off for her first full year at primary school.
The inspiring five year old, of Bedgrove, has a rare condition called eosinophillic gastrointestinal disease.
Despite this she sets off with her Disney Princess lunchbox in hand so she can fit in with her friends.
“I am excited, yes,” said Ella who was named Child of Courage at the Bucks Herald Pride of Aylesbury awards in June.
During lunchtimes she will spend half her time with a helper who will feed her a special formula through a permanent feeding tube in her stomach.
The other half is expected to be spent resting, because Ella also has a separate condition which affects her joints and prevents her walking long distances.
But despite this she remains upbeat and positive, saying: “I’m going to meet my teacher.
“I already know her name.”
Ella likes to draw flowers, her favourite is a pink rose, and when she is asked what she expects to be doing in lessons she beams: “I want to do lots of colouring.
“My best friend is in the same class and she likes colouring with me.”
Although she has attended Bedgrove Nursery since she was three-and-half, the condition has affected her attendance levels.
It is hoped she will complete all of Year One at Bedgrove Infants, which will be the first time she has attended more than one term.
After years of tests to try to diagnose the problems, a team at Great Ormond Street Hospital finally figured it out.
Ella’s younger brother Adam, aged two-and-a-half, also has the same condition.
Because Adam was diagnosed at much earlier age he is not as wary of food as Ella.
Each school day proud mum Karen, 31, will pack Ella’s lunchbox with food that she could eat if she chooses to try to swallow it.
She said: “Yes, it is really nice to see her going to school.
“It is quite an anxious time as sometimes she finds it hard work and she gets very tired.
“Every day is different, some are good and some are bad.
“You just don’t know how it is going to be.
“She can eat, but chooses not to.
“Eating causes her pain and makes her feel sick at times, but not all the time.
“She is so brave.”
Ella’s story has made headlines in the national press since being featured in the Bucks Herald in June.
Because of the problems and delays in diagnosing Ella, mum Karen is helping set up a new charity for children with the condition.
So far roughly 300 families have come forward to say they believe their child suffers with it.
Karen hopes that by highlighting Ella’s story she can help other families.
She said: “So that other people who might have children who are being sick or in pain, it will perhaps help them.
“Or for doctors as well, so they can learn about it because often diagnosis is late.”
The issue has already been looked at by the NHS, leading to a victory for children with the condition. Karen said: “There are now some new Nice guidelines. The guidelines are trying to decrease the length of times it is taking to get diagnosed with these types of conditions.”
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Weather for Aylesbury
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
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