Birmingham Children's Hospital Tattoo: An indelible tribute to incredible care
When Freya Felton, 19, from Walsall, was two years old, she was rushed to Birmingham Children's Hospital’s Emergency Department.
There, she was diagnosed with pancreatitis and became an inpatient at the hospital’s specialist Liver Ward.
Freya's mum, Claire Felton, told us about their first visit to the hospital: "When Freya was two years old she became very unwell. She was doubled over in pain and lost a lot of weight. We took her to our local hospital, who transferred her to specialists at the Children's Hospital.
"It was really worrying. Freya was getting more poorly and her pain was getting worse and as parents there was nothing we could do.
"However, straight away the Liver team were fantastic and Professor Kelly, her consultant, was amazing and explained to us what was happening."
She was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis, which for Freya is genetic. It is a condition where the pancreas has become permanently damaged from inflammation and stops working properly, and for Freya has caused many complications.
She developed portal vein thrombosis, a clot in the blood vessel that brings blood to the liver from the intestines.
When she was three years old, she needed a major operation called a Cystogastrostomy, to drain pseudocysts which had developed in her pancreas. She also needed her gall bladder removed.
Claire explained: "Freya was in and out of hospital for most of her childhood and has had over 20 procedures in her life. She's needed lung drains, hernia operations and has had an endoscopy every year."
Freya was also tube-fed until she was nine years old and was diagnosed with diabetes at 12.
Claire said: “Due to damage caused by her portal vein thrombosis, Freya cannot undergo further operations, so now it is just a case of managing her pain the best we can.
“We've been seen by so many teams at the hospital who have been a fantastic help to Freya. There is no cure for her pancreatitis but the pain team helped her to manage the intense pain that comes with her condition.
"We are forever grateful for the Liver Team and for Prof Kelly. The care we received was incredible and they have supported us so much."
To thank the Children's Hospital for their care, Freya's grandparents (photo below) climbed Blencathra Mountain in the Lake District by the notoriously difficult Sharp Edge route, raising over £25,000 to fund flat screen TVs for all the beds in the Liver Unit.
Due to the incredible amount raised, her grandparents were named one of the Children’s Hospital Charity’s '100 Heroes' back in 2010 – an accolade awarded annually to the charity’s top fundraisers for the year - and their names appeared on the red balloon corridor at the entrance to the hospital.
Claire said: "Freya wanted to recognise the Children’s Hospital in some way and what could be a more perfect tribute than a tattoo of the charity’s iconic red balloon symbol when she turned 18, to honour her journey."
Freya said about the tattoo: "I got the tattoo because of how much they have helped me. They have been a huge part of our lives."
Prof Kelly (photo below) said: "Freya is one of the bravest and most inspiring patients I have ever had the privilege to care for. Ever since I met her, she has coped with exceptional pain and suffering, but through it all, she remains a talented and determined young woman, who taught us all so much. I wish her lots of luck as she moves into adult life.”
