X Factor winner Matt Cardle visited Bristol Royal Hospital for
Children today 10 years after the hospital opened its doors to
patients.
Matt met with patients, their families and staff members at the
hospital and enjoyed some birthday cake as part of a year of
celebrations.
He also met with Dr Jacqueline Cornish, Head of Division of
Womens and Childrens Services, who treated Matt for six months in
1985 for Wilms Tumour. She then followed him up regularly in the
outpatient department until his family moved to Essex.
Matt Cardle said:
I am really proud of all the good work Bristol Childrens
Hospital has done over the years. When I was two years old
the hospital treated me for Wilm's Tumour, which was a solid kidney
tumour. I had a kidney removed and underwent chemotherapy for
six months. I am eternally grateful for the care and
attention I received at the hospital. Its a real honour to
attend the 10th anniversary of the new building alongside Dr
Jacqueline Cornish and the rest of the staff.
Dr Jacqueline Cornish said:
It was lovely to see Matt and his family again. He was such a
little boy of only two years old when we first looked after him,
and he was really stoic about his treatment which was not pleasant.
It has been lovely to follow him up over the years and watch his
progress as he grew up into being a young man.
It has been particularly exciting for me and the rest of the
staff at the hospital to see Matt win the X Factor last year. This
is quite inspirational to children who are currently unwell and
under our care, as it gives them a real vision of how they too can
have a normal and indeed highly successful life.
Bristol Royal Hospital for Children was opened on 21st April
2001 and since then nearly 800,000 children have been treated at
the hospital either as an inpatient, outpatient or as an emergency
patient.
