Little girl family couldn't cuddle for weeks

HOSPITAL CARED FOR TODDLER WITH RARE CONDITION, NOW PARENTS PREPARE TO SAY THANK YOU AT FUNDRAISING LANTERN WALK

- HELENA VESTY

FRANCESCA Crowther, known to her loved ones as Frankie, is one in 40,000. Like many other 14-montholds, mum and dad, Bethany and Jordan, say she's 'always on the go, a 'real wild child' and 'making everyone she meets laugh and smile'.

But Frankie's life 'looks slightly different' to lots of other children her age. The little girl was diagnosed in the womb with bladder exstrophy, a rare condition that comes as a result of the pelvis not fusing properly in utero, causing the bladder to grow outside the body.

The first months of her life came with strict rules around her care.

And after an 11-hour surgery, Frankie's parents were unable to pick up, cuddle or play with their precious little girl for weeks.

After intensive treatment, the family is saying thank you to one of only two specialist teams of medics, nurses and clinicians in the UK able to treat and manage the condition.

For the first nine months of Frankie's life, prior to her operation, her parents had to care for her bladder by placing special dressings between her bladder and her nappies as well as keeping a close eye on the skin around her bladder and treating any signs of irritation immediately.