Sophies Gift

Hello to Sophie and all the family!

It is so fantastic to see this web site and all the positive things being done to help Sophie and others like her.

I used to work in Neuro Intensive Care and had the privilege of meeting Sophie and her family. I knew straight away that this family was special. Their love for Sophie and the dignity with which they dealt with her accident was both humbling and inspiring even to staff who unfortunately see this scenario all too often.

Anyone out there who can donate money towards this fantastic cause should not hesitate. A mobile scanner would make the most enormous difference to the patients in Intensive Care.

You cannot possibly know the heartbreak, the stress, the anxiety, and the absolute feeling of helplessness you get when someone you love is involved in an accident like Sophie's. The endless hours sitting by their bed, trying to see past the machines and the tubes, wishing them to wake up... to squeeze your hand... to open their eyes... to come back to you... I have seen relatives standing in the corridor watching their loved one being wheeled away to a different department for a scan, knowing how risky it is to move them, knowing however risky it is - it needs to be done, and knowing all the while that anything could happen at any time and they might not come back. Spending hours in the waiting room, jumping at every noise from the corridor, hoping and praying for a safe return to the unit. Hoping! - for good news from the scan, hoping the doctor will look at you and smile. Hoping for a miracle.

Sometimes it happens. Sometimes that miracle is your daughter opening her eyes.

I saw Sophie open her eyes and I will never forget her, her lovely family - her gorgeous sisters and the bravest little brother a girl could wish for.

To everyone out there - give something for Sophie. She deserves it so much.