[back] Ashleigh Cave
[Some mystery! See Gardasil.]
Maghull schoolgirl paralysed after mystery illness
Dec 4 2008 By Michelle Fiddler
Cheryl Cave and mum Ashleigh
A SCHOOLGIRL was left paralysed after being struck down by a mystery illness.
Ashleigh Cave, 12, has been bed-bound in Alder Hey children’s hospital since October after collapsing during a family trip to London.
The Year 8 pupil at Maghull’s Maricourt Catholic high school fell ill with a severe headache within minutes of having her HPV cervical cancer jab.
She developed nausea before collapsing two days later and being taken into hospital, where she has remained ever since.
Ashleigh is currently undergoing intensive physiotherapy and hydro- therapy to help her regain movement in her legs.
Doctors ruled out a link between the jab and Ashleigh’s current condition, saying she demonstrated “no pathological reaction” to her vaccination.
They also ruled out a link between Ashleigh’s current condition and a pre-existing genetic condition she has, known as Noonan’s syndrome, which causes heart abnormalities and sight and hearing problems.
Ashleigh’s mum Cheryl, 37, of Old Roan, said: “I went to pick Ashleigh up from school and she was complaining of a headache and crying.
“She had a doctor’s appointment, which I took her to, and when we got home, she went straight to bed.
“The following day, she was very weak, had dizzy spells and kept saying her body was aching, so I kept her off school.
“The next day, we were due to go and see friends in London. Ashleigh said she was OK to travel, but she collapsed on the train and we had to take her a nearby hospital, where they kept her in for 24 hours.
“We took her home and her condition worsened. She could not walk or support her own weight and was admitted to Alder Hey. She has not walked since.”
Since she was admitted to hospital on October 24, Ashleigh, who is on the hospital’s neuro-medical ward, has undergone intensive physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, CT and MRI scans.
Mrs Cave added: “Ashleigh is angry she does not know what is going on.
“I take my hat off to her and her determination she will walk again.”
Dr Andrew Curran, consultant paediatric neurologist at Alder Hey, said: “Ashleigh is at present undergoing detailed and complex investigations.
“She is receiving a full input from all appropriate clinical staff, including a detailed rehabilitation programme to support her recovery.
“Ashleigh’s problems are not related to Noonan’s syndrome and I can say with complete certainty she is demonstrating no pathological reaction to her vaccination.”