Izabella's incredible effort to say thank you

17-year-old Izabella Carter-King has turned her ‘unplanned adventure’ at Sheffield Children’s into an incredible fundraising effort to say thank you for her care.

Izabella from Doncaster has been admitted to hospital more than 40 times since March 2020. At one point just walking from one room to another would make Izabella feel sick and lose her balance. In July 2021, she was diagnosed with Chiari malformation and Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), which is where the lower part of the brain pushes down into the spinal canal.

In August 2021, she had an operation to fit a VP shunt to her head after a failed LP shunt. The procedure required some of her hair to be shaved, which gave Izabella the inspiration to take on a sponsored head shave to say thank you to the staff treating her.

Izabella explained: “I decided to try and raise some money for Ward 5 at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, to say thank you to all the staff for their amazing care and dedication- not just to me, but for all the children who have to come here.”

She was joined in her head shave by family friend Emma, who wished to show her support and how much Izabella is loved, as well as ease any feelings of self-consciousness.

They also took on a sponsored 14 mile walk from her house in Doncaster to Ward 5 and the family have raised an amazing more than £3,000 for The Children’s Hospital Charity, which will be dedicated to the departmental fund. It is hoped the total can support the purchase of a new accuvein, which will help clinicians introduce a cannula or thin tube into a vein.

Mum Becky adds: “We have stayed on Ward 5, the neurosciences ward at Sheffield Children’s. All the staff are amazing, they’re so supportive and they explain everything in detail, step-by-step. They are superstars and treat every child and parent with respect.

“Prior to Izabella being admitted in March 2020, she was fit and healthy. Having treatment during COVID has been difficult, bringing extra pressures on us all, but the team at Sheffield Children’s have been amazing.

“I'd like to thank Ward 5, other parents of patients at Sheffield Children’s, strangers who read our story and of course our friends and family for the support they have given Ella and our family.”