The Little Lottie Trust

My name is Maddison, I have a seven year old daughter named Lottie. Lottie has an undiagnosed disability. In March 2014, Lottie was born at the QEQM hospital in Margate. She was blue and unresponsive. Her umbilical cord was wrapped very tightly over her head and around her neck. Family members and some medical professionals involved in Lottie’s care, believe her disability was caused by oxygen deprivation at birth. Despite there being video evidence of medical negligence and the midwife who was looking after myself and Lottie says in the video “The cord was wrapped very tightly over her head” during the video and evidence from an MRI scan showing brain damage, hospitals will not put a name to Lottie’s condition after hearing this information, and her disability remains undiagnosed. We have tried contacting solicitors to get Lottie justice, but because Lottie wasn't given oxygen or taken to the special baby unit, even though she should have been! They all tell us we don’t have a case. I’ve also spoken to several people at the QEQM hospital over the years, and have sent countless emails requesting Lottie’s hospital notes, but they say they have lost them and have no record of me emailing them. Even on Lottie's discharge letter we were sent home with, it says nothing about Lottie being born blue and unresponsive. Unfortunately because Lottie doesn’t have a diagnosis, her pain is undermined and she easily gets lost in the hospital system. 

Lottie’s disability effects her in many different, complex ways, but most of all Lottie is completely immobile and uses a wheelchair full time. She has recently been loaned a power chair to help her gain some independence, and to make life a little easier for our family. 

Lottie has two dislocated hips, and is under the paediatric orthopaedic team at the Evelina Children’s hospital. Lottie has had two dislocated hips for nearly five years, and despite us trying everything to have her operated on as soon as possible, it seems she’s moving further and further down the list. People involved in Lottie’s care at the Evelina children’s hospital have reviewed her yearly, which personally I don’t think is enough. They have had her hips X-rayed, and watched her condition, pain and discomfort get progressively worse, and still have not done anything to help her. We are just expected to cope with Lottie being in unbearable pain every single day. After Lottie’s pain taking a turn for the worst recently, I have been told that because of covid, Lottie’s operation has been delayed and they are only prioritising emergency cases. I would consider Lottie’s operation as an emergency. We have been told Lottie’s operation will “probably” be done around Christmas time, but I’m now taking it upon myself to look into private healthcare, and see if I can get Lottie a private paediatric orthopaedic surgeon to perform her bilateral hip surgery and a find a diagnosis for her. I know a few people that have gone private because hospitals have failed them, and they’ve received the help, support and a diagnosis for their children within a matter of weeks! 

It has been a long seven years, and although I have felt like giving up, I will never stop fighting for my daughter. It’s so frustrating when people ask me what is wrong with her, and I can’t tell them. Lottie has asked me herself what is wrong with her legs, and I have no answers for her. It’s heartbreaking. 

I’m hoping you can help me make our story public, and get the help my baby needs. 

We have recently set up a fundraising account, originally for a wheelchair accessible van for Lottie too make life easier and more comfortable for her and her family whilst travelling. Lottie experiences unbearable pain every single day, especially when travelling. And lifting and transferring Lottie into a standard car seat in the back of our Ford Kuga is becoming really difficult. However if we exceed the amount we aim to raise for Lottie to get a WAV, all donations will go towards Lottie undergoing her bilateral hip surgery with a private surgeon, who has dates available as early as next week. After waiting nearly 5 years for her surgery to be done, and still no date in sight, we’ve decided to try another route.

Lastly I’d like to thank you for reading our story. Shares and donations are greatly appreciated and I hope we can finally get the justice and help our beautiful Lottie deserves.