Alder Hey Children's Hospital is one of the finest paediatric hospitals in the world - and one of the proudest assets to Merseyside.
The work the hospital and its staff do for families from not only Merseyside but all across the country has resulted in countless young lives being saved. Staff from Alder Hey have travelled the world providing care and support - and the recent announcement that the hospital will be taking in a number of Ukrainian children shows the humanitarian lengths staff will go to.
The ECHO covers a range of stories involving the staff and patients at Alder Hey. This is a list of some of our favourite stories we've reported on this year from the children's hospital.
READ MORE: Alder Hey 'proud' to take Ukrainian children for cancer treatment
Boy diagnosed with rare muscle disorder when he started walking with limp -
An 11-year-old boy battling a muscle-wasting disease hopes a new research drug can help delay respiratory and muscle decline and improve his quality of life. Noah Stevenson-Lea has been undergoing a trial at Alder Hey for the past 96 weeks to see if a research drug can slow the progression of muscle wasting.
Noah started walking with a limp when he was three and was then diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy - a progressive, muscle-wasting disease that leads to difficulties with movement and can also affect the heart.
Noah has been travelling from Telford every week for the treatment which is hoped can slow the rate of progression of the muscle wasting. Mum Sally said they would make the journey every day if needed - and it was made so much easier because of the staff.
Sally said: "It's devastating how it affects him in his everyday life - he goes through so much but he's so brave. The most devastating thing for him is how it affects him mentally as when he's at school he sees all his friends being active.
"He used to just stand at the side and watch because he was scared of falling over. He just can't do what his peers do."
Noah has started to play wheelchair football - a sport that keeps him active but allows him to also develop socially after the restrictions of the pandemic. Sally said this opportunity has been given to them by the staff at Alder Hey and the support they've given the family.
She said: "We really couldn't ask for better help and care from them. Knowing they're there, it makes our journey so much easier."
Mum noticed problem with daughter, 6, after comparing her with her twin -
A six-year-old girl who was in pain whenever she walked said her "legs feel free already" after a recent operation at Alder Hey. Fearne Disbury was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was just three - but following her operation her mum Emma hopes her pain will be eased and she can slowly improve her mobility.
Emma told the ECHO the recent surgery has loosened the muscles in Fearne's legs and the six-year-old will soon return to her local physio after undergoing weeks of two appointments a day at Alder Hey. Fearne was first diagnosed with cerebral palsy after noticing she wasn't hitting the same milestones as her twin sister.
Emma said: "It affects her speech and her muscles. Walking is really painful for her as she gets cramps in the back of her legs and her core muscles aren't very strong.
"She's just had a surgery to relieve the spasticity in her legs which involved part of her spine being cut out. When she came out the surgery you could tell her mobility had improved. The first thing she said was her legs feel free already.
"She just gets on with it and never complains. Even with everything she has going on - she's happy and smiling all the time."
Nurse shares food with mum 'crying her eyes out' while baby was in surgery -
A mum whose son underwent a "terrifying" surgery when he was just a baby said she'll never forget the moment the nurses shared their food with her in an amazing act of kindness. Louise Brookes and her husband Paul experienced every parent's worst nightmare when their first born Jacob was rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital when he was just 24-hours old.
Jacob, now nine, had his first surgery when he was just five days old because of a bowel blockage - before a marathon nine hour operation at 12 weeks where most of his large bowel was removed. Louise said she was "terrified" when Jacob was taken into surgery but the support provided to her and Paul by the staff at the children's hospital is something she'll "never forget".
Louise said: "When Jacob had the major operation when he was just 12 weeks old he was diverted in an ambulance and we couldn't go with him. We arrived at the hospital and I was an emotional wreck - it was so traumatic.
"I was crying my eyes out but the nurses were so lovely. They wrapped their arms around me and gave me the biggest hug and told me he was going to be fine.
"Because they were on a night shift they asked if we'd had any food which we hadn't so they gave us nachos and homemade rocky road. I'll always remember that - it was just so kind. I knew even though he was poorly, he was in the right place."
Family 'cried eyes out' after son's 'gruelling' battle ends -
A young boy who "pledged to smash cancer's head in" had a "miracle" recovery. Back in 2020, ten-year-old David Lally started suffering from headaches and flickering in his right eye and tests were taken at Arrowe Park Hospital.
However, the New Brighton family was given the devastating news on December 22 that David had three large brain tumours and several smaller ones. The youngster began gruelling treatment at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, which left him feeling "tired".
But dad Chris said they were given a "miracle" on December 23 - exactly one year on from that devastating diagnosis - when they were told David was in remission.
Chris said: "Alder Hey has been absolutely unreal. We didn't have to ask for anything, they were always there for us. To anyone going through similar, stay strong. Keep as strong as you can, they need to stay positive and strong so try not to show them you're upset.
"I've had bad times and I've had a friend I could go and speak to about anything which helps. And concentrate on your other kids as well, keep them going too, especially if they don't understand what is happening."
Chris called it "a miracle" and praised David's fight and determination throughout the battle. Chris said: "He kept smiling and he said let's smash cancer's head in. Those were his exact words."
Family 'owe everything' to Alder Hey staff for saving baby's life -
A young baby is "lucky to be here" after two gruelling open heart surgeries, thanks to the "amazing staff" at a local children's hospital. Georgia Struthers said she and partner, Kallum Edwards, were "made up" to find out they were pregnant but "nothing could ever have prepared them" for what they were about to go through.
The North Wales mum said she found out her baby, Lincoln, had an abnormality with his heart at their 20-week scan and were referred to the Liverpool Women's Hospital. Lincoln was sent to Alder Hey Children's Hospital where he underwent a gruelling seven and a half hour operation on his heart.
After having open heart surgery at just 13 days old, Lincoln had to wait another seven weeks before he could go home for the first time. Georgia and Kallum said they owe Lincoln's life to Mr Ram Dhannapuneni who performed the surgery and looked after them until they returned home.
Georgia said: "It's been horrendous. There's been times I thought we wouldn't be walking out of the hospital with our baby so to be at home now is priceless.
"We owe them everything. If it wasn't for their care, expertise and skills, we wouldn't have our baby and that's what it comes down to. Dr Ram is more than a surgeon. He came to see us every day and came to check how Lincoln was. They give such excellent care.
"When I walked into Alder Hey the first time, I never realised I'd walk out a completely different person. It's a different world and certainly opens up your eyes and you realise how lucky some people are."
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