This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7831484.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tahlia - a girl in five million Tahlia - a girl in five million
(1 day later)
By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC NewsBy Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News
Tahlia loves balletTahlia loves ballet
Like many three-year-old girls, Tahlia Lovegrove adores ballet.Like many three-year-old girls, Tahlia Lovegrove adores ballet.
She likes walking in the woods with her parents and going to nursery.She likes walking in the woods with her parents and going to nursery.
Most of the time she is like every other girl her age - but in fact Tahlia is one in five million.Most of the time she is like every other girl her age - but in fact Tahlia is one in five million.
When she was just one year old, doctors discovered that Tahlia had a very rare condition: long segment tracheal stenosis (LSTS), which left her windpipe or trachea dangerously narrow.When she was just one year old, doctors discovered that Tahlia had a very rare condition: long segment tracheal stenosis (LSTS), which left her windpipe or trachea dangerously narrow.
Initially doctors were pessimistic about Tahlia's chances of survival, but within days she was given pioneering surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) to shorten and widen her trachea in a delicate five-hour operation.Initially doctors were pessimistic about Tahlia's chances of survival, but within days she was given pioneering surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) to shorten and widen her trachea in a delicate five-hour operation.
Despite the initial fears of medics, today Tahlia is thriving and now appears in a TV fundraising campaign for the hospital which saved her.Despite the initial fears of medics, today Tahlia is thriving and now appears in a TV fundraising campaign for the hospital which saved her.
They say it is like running 100 metres at a sprint and breathing through a straw Alison LovegroveThey say it is like running 100 metres at a sprint and breathing through a straw Alison Lovegrove
The normal size of a trachea is 6-8mm - over three times the size of Tahlia's at the time of her operation.The normal size of a trachea is 6-8mm - over three times the size of Tahlia's at the time of her operation.
A major blood vessel from the heart to her lung was also hooked around the trachea and had to be repositioned.A major blood vessel from the heart to her lung was also hooked around the trachea and had to be repositioned.
Fundraising thanksFundraising thanks
Her family have been family are so grateful for Tahlia's full recovery that they have raised nearly £4,000 for GOSH Her family have been family are so grateful for Tahlia's full recovery that they have raised nearly £4,000 for GOSH.
"She now has a fantastic normal life," said her mother Alison."She now has a fantastic normal life," said her mother Alison.
"Great Ormond Street really did give her her life back."Great Ormond Street really did give her her life back.
Tahlia also has asthmaTahlia also has asthma
"They repaired her trachea brilliantly. It was ingenious work really."They repaired her trachea brilliantly. It was ingenious work really.
"Before the operation they said it would have been like running 100 metres at a sprint and breathing through a straw.""Before the operation they said it would have been like running 100 metres at a sprint and breathing through a straw."
Alison said that Tahlia had been well until last September when she was diagnosed with asthma, making it harder to monitor her condition.Alison said that Tahlia had been well until last September when she was diagnosed with asthma, making it harder to monitor her condition.
"Until then, she was holding up really well."Until then, she was holding up really well.
"But in September she got poorly again with a cold and struggled more than usual. By this time a local consultant had been detecting a wheeze and was suspicious she might be asthmatic, but it could have been a symptom of her trachea re-narrowing."But in September she got poorly again with a cold and struggled more than usual. By this time a local consultant had been detecting a wheeze and was suspicious she might be asthmatic, but it could have been a symptom of her trachea re-narrowing.
"We thought the repair might need some tweaking but we went to GOSH and they found no such narrowing at all. So the diagnosis is that she has full blown asthma as well, which is very unlucky for her."We thought the repair might need some tweaking but we went to GOSH and they found no such narrowing at all. So the diagnosis is that she has full blown asthma as well, which is very unlucky for her.
"We are treating her for asthma which is tough, but by no means as tough as her needing work on her trachea again.""We are treating her for asthma which is tough, but by no means as tough as her needing work on her trachea again."
Future prognosisFuture prognosis
Alison said they are hopeful that Tahlia will need no further surgery.Alison said they are hopeful that Tahlia will need no further surgery.
"She is being given more regular check-ups now she is asthmatic because the dangers are that we could overlook the symptoms of a narrowing and think they were down to the asthma.""She is being given more regular check-ups now she is asthmatic because the dangers are that we could overlook the symptoms of a narrowing and think they were down to the asthma."
But Alison said Tahlia still has a few emotional legacies from her treatment.But Alison said Tahlia still has a few emotional legacies from her treatment.
"It does leave a child with a tendency to anxiety," she said."It does leave a child with a tendency to anxiety," she said.
"We have had a lot of support in trying to get her to calm herself down because she does go quite wild with panic and she has night terrors which are retriggered because she has some subconscious memories of what happened there."We have had a lot of support in trying to get her to calm herself down because she does go quite wild with panic and she has night terrors which are retriggered because she has some subconscious memories of what happened there.
"But we do get lots of support to help her understand through play.""But we do get lots of support to help her understand through play."
Clair Noctor, clinical nurse specialist at GOSH, said because the condition and operation are so rare, medical staff do not know whether Tahlia will need further surgery.Clair Noctor, clinical nurse specialist at GOSH, said because the condition and operation are so rare, medical staff do not know whether Tahlia will need further surgery.
"We don't have long term experiences with the children who have had this surgery and we are still learning as we go."We don't have long term experiences with the children who have had this surgery and we are still learning as we go.
"What we are hoping is that her trachea will be good enough for her as she grows."What we are hoping is that her trachea will be good enough for her as she grows.
"But we will be keeping an eye on her in teenage and adult life and she will have very thorough investigations throughout her life.""But we will be keeping an eye on her in teenage and adult life and she will have very thorough investigations throughout her life."