A Scots school girl suffering from a rare spinal condition which left her temporarily paralysed from the neck down has been reunited with her beloved pet dog.
Brooke Gibson woke up complaining of a sore neck and a limp arm on November 27 and was rushed to Crosshouse Hospital after losing control of her head.
The nine-year-old was sedated and transferred to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow as she struggled to breathe, eat and communicate with her family.
Brooke, from Auchinleck in Ayrshire, was later diagnosed with Acute Flaccid Myelitis, which affects the body’s muscles and reflexes.
The decision was made to perform a tracheostomy just days before Christmas in a bid to help her recover.
Thankfully, the operation worked and she was able to start speaking to her loved ones again.
Staff from the intensive care unit decided to reunite Brooke with her four-legged friend after noticing pictures of the pooch on her bedside table.
Proud mum Paula Murphy told how the surprise visit on January 23 had lifted the youngster’s spirits while also helping her, dad Martin, 31, and younger brother Harris, five.
She said: “Seeing Brooke with Jura was priceless, she was absolutely ecstatic to see her. It’s been such a tough time for her but getting to see her so happy gave us all a boost.
“Brooke is almost nine now, so she understands what’s going on and that has impacted on her mental health. It was such a great thing for her to be able to see Jura, we can’t thank the staff enough for arranging this.”
Brooke continues to undergo treatment and both her family and the hospital staff have been amazed by her progress.
Her mobility is improving, especially in her left arm, and she is now able to walk with the help of a neck brace.
Paula, 30, added: “We still don’t know what will happen, but Brooke has enough determination for all of us. Her determination has given us so much hope for the future, it’s amazing to see how far she has come.
“We cannot thank the staff at the RHC enough for everything they have done, the treatment has been fantastic from start to finish.
“They have looked after Brooke so well but also all of us as her family. Helping to arrange Jura’s visit also shows how much they care about Brooke and the impact this has been having on her.”
Liane McPherson, Designated Senior Charge Nurse at the Royal Hospital for Children, added: “All the staff were delighted to see how much it meant to Brooke and her family for her to be able to spend some time with Jura.
“Being in hospital can have such an impact on mental health, so we try to do anything we can to help make people feel as at home as possible.
“We know how important Jura is to Brooke so it was great that we could bring her to the campus to meet Brooke outside. We’re so pleased to see how well Brooke is doing.
“She is so focused and determined, we are looking forward to helping her reach new recovery milestones as her treatment continues.”
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