Three-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who was given no hope of walking takes first steps during lockdown
Jodi NewtonTable of Contents
A three-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who doctors thought would never walk took her first steps on day one of lockdown.
Felicity Edgar was starved of oxygen at birth after delays in giving her a caesarean section, leaving her with an incurable condition. But despite doctors saying Felicity would never walk or talk she has proved them wrong by taking her first steps with her walker.
Felicity was born on April 11, 2017 at the Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in Hammersmith. Amber had had a normal pregnancy but errors by doctors, that saw a delay in her getting a caesarean section, resulted in Felicity being starved of oxygen. She was not breathing when she was born and had to be resuscitated.
Felicity’s mum Amber, 24, said: “When Felicity was born we so nearly lost her and after that the doctors said she would never walk or talk. But she has proved everybody wrong and she is our own lockdown miracle.
“Felicity had been given a walker previously, but she was never comfortable standing with it and hadn’t taken any steps. We were going to the sweet shop and decided to try her out on her walker again and we were so shocked and elated when she started walking.
“It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen and one of the best moments for me ever. She has done this against the odds and it makes me so proud. Now we can’t stop her and she is always getting her shoes to tell us she wants to go for a walk. It has cost us a lot in sweets!”
Amber, who is a trainee chef from Crayford, in Kent, added: “The doctors said she probably wouldn’t make it through the night, so we had her christened that day. But she’s a fighter and she survived. Later the doctors said she wouldn’t walk or talk. That was devastating, but she has shown what she can achieve.”
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust admitted that care provided for Felicity “fell below the appropriate standard during her mother’s labour in the period running up to her birth on 11 April 2017 and that, with the care of the proper standard, she would have avoided sustaining such neurological damage”. Felicity and her family have now moved to a larger home that fulfils her physical needs.
Jodi Newton, a clinical negligence solicitor, who is representing Amber and Felicity, said: “Felicity’s determination against all the odds is a truly incredible and inspirational story. We had real concerns about Felicity’s future, but she managed to take her first steps during the lockdown and there’s no stopping her now. We are grateful that the Trust admitted that avoidable mistakes were made and that their errors were the cause of Felicity’s condition. The Trust has made a swift and early interim payment of compensation to assist the family to move into accommodation which is more suitable for Felicity’s needs and to pay for a rehabilitation programme of extensive therapy.”
Osbornes is an award-winning London law firm with a reputation for providing outstanding legal advice to all clients across all of the firm’s departments. The firm is recognised by ‘The Times’ in the ‘Best Law Firm Guide’ 2020.
If you or your family have been affected by issues to do with birth injury negligence call 020 7485 8811 for a free confidential discussion with our team.
Share this article
Contact
Contact us today
For a free initial conversation call 020 7485 8811
Email us Send us an email and we’ll get back to you
Cerebral Palsy News & InsightsVIEW ALL
- 9.6.2023
Early Notification Scheme – is it helping or failing...
What is the Early Notification Scheme? The NHS Early Notification Scheme (“ENS”) has reached its sixth anniversary. Established in April 2017,...
Read more - 9.11.2022
Breast cancer screening mammograms and negligence
Breast cancer screening has improved significantly in the UK due to research bettering the understanding of this terrible disease, which...
Read more - 8.9.2022
Poor interpretation of CTG can result in stillbirth...
Poor interpretation of a Cardiotocograph, more commonly known as a CTG, is a leading cause of stillbirth and brain injuries...
Read more - 14.4.2022
Severe abdominal pain prolonged due to failed surgery
Jodi Newton was instructed in a claim against London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust where our client suffered serious...
Read more - 17.2.2022
999 Call Handlers Maternity Instructions Report
HSIB Report on Maternity Pre-arrival Instructions from 999 Call Handlers The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (“HSIB”) investigate NHS maternity incidents that...
Read more - 31.1.2022
Recent cancer misdiagnosis negligence cases
Osbornes Law specialises in helping families who have suffered due to a delay or missed cancer diagnosis. We represent clients...
Read more - 27.1.2022
Recent cerebral palsy cases
Osbornes Law specialises in helping families where a child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. We represent clients and families...
Read more - 24.1.2022
Likely settlement of £15-20 million for cerebral palsy...
A client who suffered cerebral palsy injuries at birth was awarded £200,000 as an interim payment in a claim against NHS...
Read more - 15.12.2021
Vaccine Related Blood Clots And Delays in Diagnosis
Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism and Vaccine Induced Blood Clots The worldwide COVID-19 immunisation programme has been in full swing...
Read more - 12.11.2021
Preventing diagnosis delays of lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer – sadly, it is often incurable. In common...
Read more - 8.7.2021
Failure to prescribe anti-coagulant medication proves fatal
Executor of the Estate of DS and another v James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust The Clinical Negligence team...
Read more - 18.5.2021
Cerebral Palsy injuries suffered at birth likely settlement...
A client who suffered cerebral palsy injuries at birth was awarded over £375,000 as an interim payment in a claim against...
Read more - 12.2.2021
Patient Safety Investigations
Duty of Candour Investigating incidents that have led, or could lead to harm is an important safeguard for patient safety...
Read more - 11.9.2020
Osbornes Helps Client Who Suffers From Permanent Injuries...
Jodi Newton, Solicitor in Osbornes clinical negligence team, settled a claim earlier this month for her client, who suffered a...
Read more - 2.9.2020
Osbornes help family following a cancer misdiagnosis dating...
Jodi Newton, clinical negligence solicitor Osbornes Law, recently settled a claim for the family of a lady who died from...
Read more - 10.6.2020
Volunteering for AvMA – a formidable resource and important...
Early in my career as a clinical negligence solicitor, AvMA, quickly caught my attention. AvMA is a charity and is...
Read more