Jeff Hudson - Pride of Britain: A Little Girls Bravery. A Familys Strength.

Contents

About the Book

I know Im lucky to be alive. I know Im lucky to have such a wonderful family. I dont like to dwell on negative things. Id rather enjoy my life as much as possible. Ive got my school, my friends and home, and Id like to leave it at that Maybe Im being nave. Maybe Im just bottling everything up and one day its going to explode out of me. But at the moment Im okay with it.

PRIDE OF
BRITAIN

Kirsteen Lupton and Family
With Jeff Hudson

This book is dedicated to the staff of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children

AUTHORS NOTE

This book is written by me and my family. Without them I wouldnt be alive today. Because I was so young, I dont know a lot of the details about what was wrong with me. I thought it would be best if they told the stories themselves.

Foreword

I first met Kirsteen in 2006 when, quite rightly, she was awarded a Daily Mirror Pride of Britain award.

Why was she there? Simply because she is an extraordinary young woman, beautiful without, and beautiful within. Some are born special through privilege. Some are special because they have an innate talent. Kirsteen is special because of her spirit. This book is her latest venture to raise money to help other children who have suffered physically, like her, and who have spent endless years in and out of hospital. Her story is inspirational. Take time to read it; I believe it will perhaps make you see the world in a different way, bring more kindness into your life, and bring smiles and sunshine on even the bleakest day.

On October 27, 1993, Kirsteen Lupton was born in Glasgow to Jill and Martin Lupton. Born with her bladder outside her body, Kirsteen was just a few hours old when she underwent emergency surgery. A day of joy had turned into one of fear and helplessness. It would not be the last.

Through the years, Jill and Martin have been regular visitors to hospital, as Kirsteen has endured numerous operations. They have watched their little girl live with terrible pain, not knowing what to do for the best, listening to her cries. Theirs is a story of courage and pride, as they have watched their very ill daughter grow into a stunning young woman. Over the years, Kirsteen has been looked after by the staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. As she grew, she became determined to raise money for the hospital. To do this, she has given some very brave speeches, modelled at a fashion show, arranged for the proceeds of her school play to go to the hospital and many other things besides. At one event she raised 20,000 in just ten minutes by auctioning her own signature.

I would do anything for Great Ormond Street, she says. Because Ive grown up seeing so many sick children, it makes me stronger to help raise money as a thank you to the hospital. I want to be a doctor and would love to work there.

Kirsteen will have to use a catheter for the rest of her life, but her spirit remains undaunted. The day I met her she was busy charming a room full of people. As she received her Pride of Britain award, she spoke so beautifully of those who have helped her. Movie star Jude Law fell in love with her, saying she gave hope and inspiration to everyone. McFly, the band of the moment, gave her a signed guitar and the then-Prime Minister Tony Blair invited her to Downing Street the next day. Now that was a great day for any girl.

I believe that Kirsteen has an outstanding future ahead of her. She is special because of the devotion of her family and her courage. Through it all, she gives so many others hope. She makes the difference and I wish her every happiness in the world.

Carol Vorderman

2008

Prologue: Save Me

KIRSTEEN LUPTON: SAVE me! Save me! Dont let them kill me!

I was seven years old when I screamed those words.

Seven years old and terrified. I looked desperately up at Mum and Dad from my hospital bed. They were crying too. I wanted them to reach out and pick me up and make it all right. I wanted them to cuddle me anything to stop the doctors taking me away.

Help me!

But it didnt matter how loudly I screamed. They couldnt cuddle me. There was nothing they could do as I was wheeled towards the operating theatre. I weighed one and a half stone, I hadnt eaten for four weeks and if I didnt have this operation I could be dead within days.

But you dont think rationally when youre ill.

Please! Mummy, Daddy save me!

I heard their voices. They kept saying, Its going to be all right, dont worry, Kirsteen. Its going to be all right. But I wasnt listening. I was too scared.

And I wasnt the only one.

Two nurses were watching as my bed was pushed away. I looked helplessly up at them but they couldnt look back. They were shaking, holding each other. Both of them were sobbing their hearts out.

Thats when it hit me.

If the nurses are crying if theyre scared then they must think I might not be coming out.

Oh God, no!

Save me! Save me!

I had to be held down as the anaesthetic was administered. Seconds later I was unconscious.

But I had seen the question in the eyes of the doctors, the nurses and Mum and Dad. The question was would I ever wake up?

Would I come out of the operating theatre alive?

CHAPTER 1

Theres a Problem

KIRSTEEN: I WAS born on 27 October 1993 in the Queen Mothers Hospital in Glasgow. It should have been the happiest day of my mothers life. She was getting the daughter shed always wanted. She already had two beautiful boys, Kenneth and Martin Jr, born three and one and a half years earlier, respectively. But something had been bugging Mum all through this pregnancy. Something she couldnt put her finger on.

JILL: Nobody would listen to me. There was no evidence to support it. But I didnt think there was something wrong; I knew.

I told my husband Martin early on.

What do you mean? he asked.

Theres something wrong with this baby. I just know it.

He tried to reassure me, but I was adamant. With my first two babies I had felt different somehow. I couldnt explain it. It was just a feeling. Ive never had one like it before or since. But it was so strong. I just knew.

The next day we went to the Queen Mothers Hospital for another scan. Just like before, the results were fine.

See, Martin said. Theres nothing wrong.

But I knew otherwise. We went for five scans in total: the usual two, then two more when I expressed my fears and another the day before I gave birth. I even had a procedure called an amniocentesis to test for Downs syndrome, spina bifida or some other genetic abnormality. Its not a nice experience. The doctor puts a long needle through your tummy and draws off some of the amniotic fluid that surrounds your baby. There are other downsides too: theres a slightly increased risk of miscarriage; and it also takes two or three weeks for the tests to come back. My results came back clear, though. Another tick in the box marked Normal.

But still I wasnt convinced.

One thing we did learn from the scans, though, was the gender of the baby. Youre having a lovely, healthy little girl, Mrs Lupton, I was told, although I didnt have too much faith in that either. When I was expecting our second child I asked if they were able to tell us the babys sex. It was just for practical reasons, really, because I wanted to know whether or not young Kenneths old clothes would do or whether we had to buy some new little outfits.

With a big smile on his face the doctor told us, Im ninety-seven per cent certain youre having a little girl.

Oh, thats nice, I thought. One of each. And, of course, it gave me an excuse to go shopping.