A TEENAGER from Winsford who was given a five per cent chance of walking after a catastrophic spinal blood clot has been honoured by police for her campaign work.
In August 2020, Eva-Rose Estcourt was diagnosed with a rare arteriovenus malformation – an abnormal tangle of blood vessels – in her spinal cord, which led to the clot.
She was discharged from Alder Hey Children's Hospital spinal clinic in Liverpool after a year's treatment, but still needs an operation every six months to help her keep control of her bowel and bladder.
The 13-year-old, who now spends around 90 per cent of her time in a wheelchair, works with ERIC, the children’s bowel and bladder charity, as one of their 'young champions', helping to raise awareness of the issue.
She also did a sponsored walk around Knowsley Safari Park to raise money for Alder Hey, and part of a walk in Delamere Forest with her brother Euan, 20, who was fundraising for the spinal injury charity, Backup Trust.
Eva-Rose was invited to a special award ceremony at Northwich Police Station on Saturday, December 16, in honour of her outstanding resilience and achievements over the last year.
She was nominated by her older sister, Eleanor Estcourt, who's a police officer based at Northwich.
Eleanor said: “We were all in tears when the inspector read out her story.
“So much has happened over the last three years, it was really hard to take it all in, in one go.
“It was a lot of emotions all at once.
“She was such sassy child with lots of attitude, but since her illness, she’s had to rebuild her confidence, bit by bit.
“She’s really grateful to still be here and fighting.
“When she was first admitted to hospital, they had no idea what was wrong with her, but she was really sick.
“When the doctors found a blood clot on her spine after two weeks, it was panic stations, as it could have ruptured.
“It was on the nerve that controls the bottom half of her body. She still has no feeling in one leg.
“She was given a five per cent chance of walking again, but she’s really trying. That’s really good for her.
“I nominated her for the Northwich Police Christmas Award as a way of recognising just how much she’s developed and how confident she’s become.
“I wanted her to have some positive feedback, hoping it’ll spur her on to continue.”
In her role as an ERIC young champion, Eva-Rose recently designed and launched a survey to gather data about attitudes towards bowel and bladder issues in young people.
Eleanor added: “She really keen to raise awareness, and if others with this sort of injury are encouraged to come forward, it’ll help her feel she’s not alone.
“At the same time, I think her story might give others in her position extra confidence too.”
Sergeant Leanne Brundrett, who hosted the awards, said: "Eva-Rose’s award recognises her courage, resilience, and also her commitment to helping others.
“Despite her diagnosis, she is working to help raise awareness of the condition, which is such an amazing accomplishment for someone so young.
“She should be incredibly proud of herself. Congratulations to her and all our other deserving winners.”
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