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Lydia Cross - Child of Courage
01 November 2007
Brave Lydia Cross has won a prestigious Daily Mirror Pride of Britain award for her determination to help others despite her battle against the killer disease meningitis.
She received a Child of Courage award at this year's star-studded Pride of Britain event on Wednesday October 10.
The six-year-old, from Devon, had to have both legs amputated just before her third birthday, after meningitis had been dismissed as an ear infection.
But unlike most meningitis victims, she has to undergo traumatic surgery every year to trim the bones in her legs - a painful process that will continue until she stops growing.
After every operation Lydia is unable to wear her prosthetic legs for six to eight weeks in her summer holidays, which means she can't ride her bike or play outside with her friends.
Just two weeks before Lydia was struck down by meningitis, her baby sister Millie contracted a different strain of the disease and was on life support with multi-organ failure. Fortunately, after nine days in intensive care she made a total recovery.
But on the day Millie returned from hospital Lydia fell ill with a temperature of up to 40.5C. She was taken into hospital with meningitis and septicaemia and her parents Tony and Jodie were forced to relive the same ordeal again.
Lydia, who was also on life support for days with multi-organ failure, was not as lucky as her little sister and lost both her legs.
The family now relies on fundraising to pay for new prosthetic legs which cost £14,200 and need replacing every 10 months.
They are also desperately trying to raise around £66,000 to pay for massive alterations needed in the family home.
Tony, a former Army Commando, even puts his life in danger by going to Iraq to work as a security guard where he can earn more money.
"Lydia really misses her daddy when he goes away", says Jodie, 37. "She says he is in the desert with the camels and big spiders and wishes he was home! We are hoping Tony will be able to come back home permanently in March."
Doctors are amazed by Lydia's bubbly and outgoing nature. As well as making a film for the Foundation, she has also featured in three television documentaries.
"Lydia knows this is helping others", says Jodie. "She says she wants to do it so other children don't get meningitis."
Meningitis Research Foundation Chief Executive, Denise Vaughan, says: "Meningitis is everyone's worst nightmare. Having survived it, to go through so many operations over the years is bravery of the highest order, especially in one so young."
The family are currently raising a petition to take to Prime Minister Gordon Brown about raising awareness of the disease among NHS workers.
"Lydia has always been very strong-willed and determined", says Jodie, "That's one of the reasons she survived the disease.
"She's unbelievably accepting of her situation and will have a go at anything. She loves swimming and riding her bike and going on the trampoline. She gets frustrated sometimes but that doesn't stop her. She's such a brave and beautiful little girl."
For more information visit www.prideofbritain.com