Toddler dies two months before his birthday after tragic incident at nursery
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Leader Live
2 days ago
- Leader Live
Dancer suffering from anorexia fundraising for treatment
Olivia-May Ashton, aged 29, was diagnosed with atypical anorexia in 2016 - while she was training at a dance school in London. A decade on, and Olivia, from Buckley, says Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) "continues to deny me of the treatment I need". "I left London, had to move home, due to needing more support - and wasn't able to continue my dance career," she said. "My care was meant to be transferred to my local eating disorder community team. But it wasn't, I was placed in my local community mental health team and left with no specialist treatment and a battle to get any support. "They refused to believe I had an eating disorder, even though I was formally diagnosed at the Maudsley Psychiatric Hospital in London." Olivia, who has autism, said over the past five years she has been "in and out" of an acute psychiatric hospital. "I'd have crisis episodes, burnouts, and meltdowns", she said. "Which we now understand is my autism and ADHD, which my community team never picked up on. "I had a private assessment and was formally diagnosed. I have had multiple specialist eating disorder assessments recommending specific treatment for my needs, which continues to be unmet and ignored by BCUHB. "The services which are meant to provide help and support, have ultimately made my mental health and life worse. "I have now been left with no choice other than to try and fund some private treatment, but this is going to come at a huge cost. It shouldn't be a postcode lottery for people to access the required services, but this is the reality." Olivia has set up a GoFundMe page to fund treatment at the ABBI eating disorders clinic in Greater Manchester which offers group and one-to-one therapy, and meal support. "It's like being in hospital, without the overnight stay, and more therapeutic," she said. Olivia May-Ashton pictured with her dog during a previous hospital admission. (Image: Olivia May-Ashton) Olivia has so far raised just over £500. Her page can be accessed via It costs £250 to attend the centre, and Olivia would be attending twice a week. After she requested access to the ABBI facility through the NHS, BCUHB told her that the Welsh NHS does not commission day programme services for eating disorders. The health board said it was also deemed to be the "best course of action", and instead suggested Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). "I've already had DBT and it didn't work for me", Olivia said. "I can't help but feel neglected by NHS adult mental health services, and hope that in the future no one else has to go through what I have been through, and continue to go through on a daily basis." MORE NEWS: Olivia has submitted a formal complaint to BCUHB - which has confirmed it is looking into. Teresa Owen, BCUHB's executive director of Allied Health Professions and Health Science, said: 'We are sorry to hear that Miss Ashton is unhappy with the care she has received. "We can confirm we have received her concern this week and will be responding to her directly.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'I thought I just had toothache, then a shock diagnosis changed my life forever'
Keshia Liburd thought her pain would be solved with a quick trip to the dentist - however she soon got the devastating news that she had a rare form of aggressive cancer A mum has revealed how what she thought was just toothache turned out to be an aggressive form of cancer. Keshia Liburd, 38, is now having to look to Germany for help as the NHS can't help her. Her problems started in 2023 when the mum-of-three thought her toothache could be solved with a trip to the dentist. She was surprised to be told there was nothing wrong with her teeth. By September Keshia was also experiencing pain in her chest. She called 999 and an ambulance took her to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary to have an X-ray. It comes after a doctor's warning to people who drink even a 'single cup of tea'. After 16 agonising days waiting, Keshia finally was given a devastating answer - she had ALK-positive lung cancer — a rare, aggressive subtype that even often strikes non-smokers with no apparent symptoms, YorkshireLive reports. 'I didn't even have a cough,' says Keshia. 'No breathing issues – just a toothache. Within weeks I was told I had what is now incurable cancer.' Despite having treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy available in the UK, there is no NHS-funded targeted drug Keshia faced several rounds of chemotherapy - which were successful and she became cancer free in January 2024. However just three months later she was given the earth-shattering news that it was back. On her GoFundMe page, Keisha, who lives in Almondbury, said: "The cancer had returned and spread aggressively — to my liver, lymph nodes, and brain. "Since then, I've endured 3 different types of chemotherapy, 30 rounds of radiotherapy, and 3 rounds of standard immunotherapy. I'm now on my 4th round of chemotherapy. "We're doing everything we can, but the options available in the UK are limited. "I've been told that if the cancer continues to grow over the next 12 weeks, my treatment will be stopped. There's nothing more they can offer me here." "In Germany, there are advanced treatments not available in the UK — including T.A.C.E and Dendritic Cell Therapy — that could potentially save my life. "These therapies are available at WEGE Clinic in Bonn, but the cost is £40,000 — a sum that's impossible for our family to afford on our own. "I'm not ready to give up. I need to be here for my children — to guide them, love them, and watch them grow. They've had to grow up far too fast, carrying burdens no child should ever have to. I want to give them the stability and future they deserve. "We're asking for your help — no amount is too small. Your donation could give us more time together and access to a treatment that might just save my life. "From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your love, support, and prayers. We're holding onto hope, and with your help, we can keep fighting. "With love, Keshia, Jimmy, Josiah, Sienna & Ezekiel" Now with the support of her partner Jimmy and her children Josiah (17), Sienna (14), and Ezekiel (9), as well as other family members and friends, the fundraiser has so far raised more than £8,000. 'Lung cancer isn't just a smoker's disease anymore — it's a silent killer,' says her cousin, who launched the family's GoFundMe in hopes of reaching their £40,000 goal. 'She deserves to see all of her children grow up.'
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Brave boy, 3, dies while 'fighting to the end' after being born with half a heart
A brave and bubbly young boy has sadly died at the age of three, after being born with half a heart and spending about half of his life in hospital A three-and-a-half-year-old boy has heartbreakingly died in hospital, after originally being born with half a heart. Little Louis Smith tragically had a cardiac arrest on July 28, which ultimately affected his brain, and he died shortly after. The "true warrior" was born with just two heart chambers instead of four, on January 3 2022. Louis, from Widnes, was on the transplant list for a new heart, which meant he would've lived a fuller life. He also had numerous surgeries throughout his life to try and prolong his years. "On the 20-week scan of the pregnancy, they discovered that it's much more complicated," said dad Josh Smith, 24. "He basically had half of a heart, but we obviously carried on with the pregnancy. Throughout his life he had numerous surgeries which sort of tried to help and prolong his life." Louis was transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital shortly after he was born. Josh's dad said he "couldn't even count" how many surgeries Louis had, and the youngster had a pacemaker installed to help with his heart. His most recent surgery was to fit a new wire to his pacemaker, which was working exactly as it was supposed to. "But before he had that surgery he had a cardiac arrest which caused some damage to his brain, which sort of took him away from us," Josh said. Louis spent eight weeks in hospital before he tragically died. He fought with incredible strength, but his heart couldn't fight any longer, a friend wrote on a GoFundMe appeal. Josh added: "He was strong all the way through, and he did fight 'til the very last minute. We were very proud. He was a good lad. "He was the best person you'd ever meet. You could be as sad as anything, but as soon as you walk into a room with him, you just couldn't not smile. He's just a lovely person. He was a really, really good kid." Josh said the he and his partner, Ellie Atkinson, 23, had to stay strong for Louis throughout his life. His overall feeling over the past few years was "just love", he said. It was strange having to go through the numerous surgeries and hospital visits, he said, especially because Louis was just a young boy and he didn't deserve any of it. He said: "It was a lot of just 'Okay, this is what we're dealing with... let's just deal with it the best way we can do." It helped that the entire family had a great experience with the team at Alder Hey. Little Louis loved it at the hospital, because there was such a strong bond with the staff. "He loved the attention of being in hospital because obviously everyone had to do everything he wanted them to do, when he wanted it," said Josh. "He actually really enjoyed it for the time that we've been here, and we've probably been in hospital at least half of his life." Louis' family and friends launched a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs and a memorial, in order to give him the send-off he deserves.
