Swansea school raises money for hospital service treating pupil with blood vessel disorder

THE Swansea school of a teenager with a blood vessel disorder has raised hundreds of pounds for the hospital service which is treating her.

Morriston Hospital’s paediatric unit has been handed a generous donation of just under £700 on behalf of one of its teenage patients.

PICTURED: Consultant paediatrician Dr Vallabhaneni with Keeley Davies and her mum Sharon.

Keeley Davies has received treatment from the service and consultant Pramodh Vallabhaneni since 2014 after she was diagnosed with Henoch Schonlein Purpura Nephritis (HSP).

This is a disorder that causes the small blood vessels in the skin, joints, intestines and kidneys to become inflamed and bleed.

Keeley has been keen to raise money for the unit, and her wish came true through a non-uniform day and cake sale at her school, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe in Penlan.

Proceeds will go towards helping children within the unit with kidney-related problems who often struggle to record an accurate blood pressure.

The paediatric unit fund is one of hundreds of individual funds that come under the umbrella of Swansea Bay Health Charity.

This is the health board’s official charity.

Money raised is used for equipment, staff training, research and special projects for the benefit of our patients and staff, above and beyond what the NHS can provide.

Keeley’s mum, Sharon Davies, said: “The paediatric unit has been outstanding in the treatment it has given Keeley.

“When she was six, she was diagnosed with HSP, and I’ll never forget Pramodh telling me he’d been up all night worrying about her.

“It showed me that he was the right consultant for my daughter, and the level of care she has received from him and the unit since that moment has been phenomenal.

“We really wanted to thank Pramodh and the team for giving Keeley that level of care, and we have done that with this donation, thanks to the help of Bryn Tawe school.”

After being diagnosed with HSP, Keeley suffered significant complications and needed further input from University Hospital of Wales, which Dr Vallabhaneni oversaw.

Then, in February this year, she was diagnosed with a bone cyst tumour, which proved to be benign, and was removed at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Keeley continues to be assessed every three months in Birmingham, while she remains under the care of Swansea Bay’s paediatric team.

Sharon added: “Keeley has gone through a lot. She suffers with her mental health, but the way in which Pramodh has been able to communicate and put her at ease is very comforting to me as her mother. She reacts to his guidance and expertise very well.

“To us, we have the best consultant Keeley could possibly have because he’s helped her come through some very tough times.”

The donation will now go straight back into the paediatric unit to help its young patients.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Vallabhaneni said: “It has been a privilege being Keeley’s general paediatrician. I have been able to offer the family close support through one challenge after another, and we’ve built up a strong understanding throughout Keeley’s care.

“It’s heart-warming to hear such positive things being said about our service because we all work hard to deliver the best care for our paediatric patients.

“We’re all so grateful to the family and the school for raising money as a result of the care and treatment Keeley has received.

“We want to use this donation to help children with kidney-related problems who struggle to record accurate blood pressure.”