Elizabeth was severely burned in a horrific fire in 2014 when she was six months old. Her family was living in Qatar, where dad Liam was working as an engineer. Her mum Sinead had just put her down in her cot when a faulty air conditioner sparked a blaze that quickly engulfed the room. Liam recalled: “Sinead went inside and the room was on fire. The cot was on fire. Elizabeth was on fire.”
The family was flown to England by air ambulance, and Elizabeth was admitted to a specialist unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, battling for life. As well as 60% burns, she had lost most of her fingers, and an ear.
She spent weeks in a coma, followed by six months in intensive care, and has undergone more than 70 operations so far. She still faces grafts and reconstructive surgery every six months and needs regular physiotherapy and several baths a day to help soothe her scars.
Last year, wanting to thank the medics who saved her life, Elizabeth ran a mile a day for 26 days, including 73 laps of her garden during periods of isolation. She raised £202,000, including £130,000 for a Fractional CO2 Laser machine which softens tissue and reduces tightness around severe scars from burns and other forms of injury and trauma, She proudly unveiled the new equipment just before Christmas.
Despite everything she has gone through, Elizabeth refuses to feel sorry for herself. Liam says: “She is an unbelievably enthusiastic child. She never complains, she just gets on and does it, always has a smile on her face, it is unbelievable."
6 мар 2022
