Three-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who was given no hope of walking takes first steps during lockdown

24 Jul 2020 | Jodi Newton
child hand

Table of Contents

A three-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who doctors thought would never walk took her first steps on day one of lockdown.

Felicity Edgar was starved of oxygen at birth after delays in giving her a caesarean section, leaving her with an incurable condition. But despite doctors saying Felicity would never walk or talk she has proved them wrong by taking her first steps with her walker.

Felicity was born on April 11, 2017 at the Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in Hammersmith. Amber had had a normal pregnancy but errors by doctors, that saw a delay in her getting a caesarean section, resulted in Felicity being starved of oxygen. She was not breathing when she was born and had to be resuscitated.

Felicity’s mum Amber, 24, said: “When Felicity was born we so nearly lost her and after that the doctors said she would never walk or talk. But she has proved everybody wrong and she is our own lockdown miracle.

“Felicity had been given a walker previously, but she was never comfortable standing with it and hadn’t taken any steps. We were going to the sweet shop and decided to try her out on her walker again and we were so shocked and elated when she started walking.

“It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen and one of the best moments for me ever. She has done this against the odds and it makes me so proud. Now we can’t stop her and she is always getting her shoes to tell us she wants to go for a walk. It has cost us a lot in sweets!”

Amber, who is a trainee chef from Crayford, in Kent, added: “The doctors said she probably wouldn’t make it through the night, so we had her christened that day. But she’s a fighter and she survived. Later the doctors said she wouldn’t walk or talk. That was devastating, but she has shown what she can achieve.”

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust admitted that care provided for Felicity “fell below the appropriate standard during her mother’s labour in the period running up to her birth on 11 April 2017 and that, with the care of the proper standard, she would have avoided sustaining such neurological damage”. Felicity and her family have now moved to a larger home that fulfils her physical needs.

Jodi Newton, a clinical negligence solicitor, who is representing Amber and Felicity, said: “Felicity’s determination against all the odds is a truly incredible and inspirational story. We had real concerns about Felicity’s future, but she managed to take her first steps during the lockdown and there’s no stopping her now. We are grateful that the Trust admitted that avoidable mistakes were made and that their errors were the cause of Felicity’s condition. The Trust has made a swift and early interim payment of compensation to assist the family to move into accommodation which is more suitable for Felicity’s needs and to pay for a rehabilitation programme of extensive therapy.”

Osbornes is an award-winning London law firm with a reputation for providing outstanding legal advice to all clients across all of the firm’s departments. The firm is recognised by ‘The Times’ in the ‘Best Law Firm Guide’ 2020.

If you or your family have been affected by issues to do with birth injury negligence call 020 7485 8811 for a free confidential discussion with our team.

Share this article

Contact

Contact us today

For a free initial conversation call 020 7485 8811

Email us Send us an email and we’ll get back to you






    Cerebral Palsy News & InsightsVIEW ALL

    1. Cancer treatment in a modern medical private clinic
      21.9.2023

      Large Compensation for Delayed Laryngeal Cancer Diagnosis

      Actress receives financial award after life-changing missed cancer diagnosis. Jodi Newton acted for a client who was belatedly diagnosed with...

      Read more
    2. Fatal Medical Negligence Claim
      21.9.2023

      Delayed cervical cancer diagnosis claim

      Jodi Newton acted for a woman who died following a delayed cervical cancer diagnosis. The deceased could have been diagnosed...

      Read more
    3. waiting
      31.8.2023

      NHS waiting lists hit an all-time high

      Medical Negligence Solicitor Jodi Newton explains: England’s NHS waiting lists have hit the highest number since 2007, reaching a record...

      Read more
    4. baby
      31.8.2023

      Hyponatraemia – Symptoms, Causes & Negligence

      What is hyponatraemia? Hyponatraemia is a condition where sodium levels fall below a certain level, which can be dangerous. All...

      Read more
    5. Fatal Medical Negligence Claim
      1.8.2023

      Compensation Claim for Fatal Bowel Injury

      Jodi Newton, a Partner in the Clinical Negligence Department at Osbornes Law, has recently settled a long running case against...

      Read more
    6. private hospital
      26.7.2023

      Private Healthcare Negligence

      Can you claim negligence against a private hospital? Yes – it can be a little more complicated than bringing a claim...

      Read more
    7. new born baby
      9.6.2023

      Early Notification Scheme – is it helping or failing...

      What is the Early Notification Scheme? The NHS Early Notification Scheme (“ENS”) has reached its sixth anniversary. Established in April 2017,...

      Read more
    8. The doctor looks at the x-ray
      9.11.2022

      Breast cancer screening mammograms and negligence

      Breast cancer screening has improved significantly in the UK due to research bettering the understanding of this terrible disease, which...

      Read more
    9. Pregnant woman performing cardiotocography CTG
      8.9.2022

      Poor interpretation of CTG can result in stillbirth...

      Poor interpretation of a Cardiotocograph, more commonly known as a CTG, is a leading cause of stillbirth and brain injuries...

      Read more
    10. child with blue paint on hands
      2.9.2022

      Mother & Baby Suffer Life-changing Injuries

      Claim after mother and baby suffered life-changing injuries during birth Jodi is acting for both mother and baby in a...

      Read more
    11. Female surgeon wearing surgical mask
      14.4.2022

      Severe abdominal pain prolonged due to failed surgery

      Jodi Newton was instructed in a claim against London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust where our client suffered serious...

      Read more
    12. pregnant lady
      17.2.2022

      999 Call Handlers Maternity Instructions Report

      HSIB Report on Maternity Pre-arrival Instructions from 999 Call Handlers The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (“HSIB”) investigate NHS maternity incidents that...

      Read more
    13. Cancer treatment in a modern medical private clinic
      31.1.2022

      Melanoma misdiagnosis negligence claim

      Jodi Newton is acting for a client with a melanoma on her foot, which the dermatologist diagnosed as benign. Concerned...

      Read more
    14. cute kid with disability playing
      27.1.2022

      Six-figure claim allows family to move home

      Six-figure compensation payment for a client Jodi Newton has secured a six-figure compensation payment for her client with cerebral palsy....

      Read more
    15. lesiones de nacimiento
      24.1.2022

      Likely settlement of £15-20 million

      A client who suffered cerebral palsy injuries at birth was awarded £200,000 as an interim payment in a claim against NHS...

      Read more
    16. syringe
      15.12.2021

      Vaccine Related Blood Clots And Delays in Diagnosis

      Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism and Vaccine Induced Blood Clots The worldwide COVID-19 immunisation programme has been in full swing...

      Read more
    17. Doctor diagnosing patient
      12.11.2021

      Preventing lung cancer delayed diagnosis & misdiagnosis

      Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious cancers – sadly, it is often incurable. In common with other...

      Read more
    18. girl looking through binoculars
      2.10.2021

      Compensation supports rehabilitation and housing

      Six-figure sum supports rehabilitation and housing. Jodi achieved a six-figure sum compensation for her client with cerebral palsy. The financial...

      Read more
    19. stethescope
      8.7.2021

      Failure to prescribe anti-coagulant medication proves fatal

      Executor of the Estate of DS and another v James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust The Clinical Negligence team...

      Read more
    20. 18.5.2021

      Cerebral Palsy injuries suffered at birth likely settlement...

      A client who suffered cerebral palsy injuries at birth was awarded over £375,000 as an interim payment in a claim against...

      Read more
    21. doctor looking at microscope
      12.2.2021

      Patient Safety Investigations

      Duty of Candour Investigating incidents that have led, or could lead to harm is an important safeguard for patient safety...

      Read more
    22. child playing lego
      2.10.2020

      Family accept £6 million compensation

      Osbornes Law represents clients and helps families establish that errors made during pregnancy, labour or post-birth led to an avoidable...

      Read more
    23. oncology ward sign
      2.9.2020

      Cervical cancer misdiagnosis

      Cervical Cancer Misdiagnosis Dating Back Four Years Jodi Newton, clinical negligence solicitor Osbornes Law, recently settled a claim for the...

      Read more

    VIEW ALL