Post by shayne on Apr 19, 2007 20:21:51 GMT 8
Danielle meets Westlife's Shane Filan at the Odyssey
Thursday, April 19, 2007
By Nigel Gould
An Ulster girl who received pioneering horse blood treatment for a rare condition is well on the road to recovery - thanks to pop superstars Westlife.
Danielle Larkham from Ballynahinch was left "shattered" after being told by doctors that she could not attend the band's weekend concert at the Odyssey - because of a risk of infection.
Then, out of the blue, the brave 13-year-old got a call from concert promoters Aiken PR to say that she would not only be able to go to the gig after all - but that she would also get to meet her big heroes back stage.
"It was incredible," dad Martin said. "We had bought tickets for Westlife after her treatment had finished and she was so looking forward to the concert.
"But then she was told that because of the risk of infection with mixing in crowds, she could not go. She was so down in the dumps after this. But then we got a call to say we could all attend the concert after all in one of the Odyssey's boxes.
"She got to meet the group and have her picture taken with them. She is a massive fan and this really made her day. It was a night none of us will ever forget and since then she has been in terrific form.
"We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Westlife - they were really brilliant - and Aiken PR. The night out could not have been better."
Earlier this year Danielle returned home after spending weeks at the Children's Hospital in Birmingham where she had a life-transforming transplant.
She spent much of Christmas in the hospital's isolation ward.
Danielle had to get the bone marrow transplant after special treatment involving the use of part of a horse's blood failed.
Danielle suffers from life- threatening auto-immune liver disease. Her condition means her body's immune system malfunctions and attacks itself.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
By Nigel Gould
An Ulster girl who received pioneering horse blood treatment for a rare condition is well on the road to recovery - thanks to pop superstars Westlife.
Danielle Larkham from Ballynahinch was left "shattered" after being told by doctors that she could not attend the band's weekend concert at the Odyssey - because of a risk of infection.
Then, out of the blue, the brave 13-year-old got a call from concert promoters Aiken PR to say that she would not only be able to go to the gig after all - but that she would also get to meet her big heroes back stage.
"It was incredible," dad Martin said. "We had bought tickets for Westlife after her treatment had finished and she was so looking forward to the concert.
"But then she was told that because of the risk of infection with mixing in crowds, she could not go. She was so down in the dumps after this. But then we got a call to say we could all attend the concert after all in one of the Odyssey's boxes.
"She got to meet the group and have her picture taken with them. She is a massive fan and this really made her day. It was a night none of us will ever forget and since then she has been in terrific form.
"We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Westlife - they were really brilliant - and Aiken PR. The night out could not have been better."
Earlier this year Danielle returned home after spending weeks at the Children's Hospital in Birmingham where she had a life-transforming transplant.
She spent much of Christmas in the hospital's isolation ward.
Danielle had to get the bone marrow transplant after special treatment involving the use of part of a horse's blood failed.
Danielle suffers from life- threatening auto-immune liver disease. Her condition means her body's immune system malfunctions and attacks itself.