5:00pm Thursday 2nd July 2009
By Samuel Underwood
A teenager left paralysed after falling from a tree is facing a second major operation.
Lauren Jones, 13, of Offington Drive, Worthing, needs further surgery to stabilise the lower part of her spine.
It means a move from Southampton General Hospital to the specialist spinal injuries unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, will be postponed.
But family members say Lauren is keeping positive and has received hundreds of goodwill messages, many from complete strangers.
Durrington High School student Lauren was climbing a tree with a friend at Chichester Marina when she fell almost 20ft.
She landed on her back, breaking one vertebra in her spine and cracking three others.
Two days earlier she had performed well in trials for Brighton and Hove Albion's youth team.
Since the accident, on June 13, Lauren has been paralysed from the waist down and told she will never walk again.
But, in a remarkable show of resilience, her parents Mike and Sue said she had been joking and laughing with hospital staff.
Family friend Ian MacGregor said: “She needs a second operation which will take place on Thursday.
“Although it is a very major operation we are told it's reasonably well practised and routine.
“Lauren has broken her back in several places. The top three vertebrae have been pinned.
“The bottom vertebra needs to have a metal cage put around it and some bone implants to give her the strength at the base of her spine.
Lauren's father Mike said he was grateful for the amazing show of support from the community.
He said: “We are really touched by everybody's support and the response we have had to the articles in The Argus.
“We have had cards and donations from so many people, some of whom we don't even know and are so touched that people are prepared to put up their own money for her at such a difficult financial time.”
The family have now opened the Lauren Jones Foundation to buy a £17,000 wheelchair and help support her in the future.
The Argus will be launching its own appeal to help meet the cost of a wheelchair for the brave teenager next week.
Lauren, who played for Worthing Minors FC, said: “Everyone has been great. My physiotherapy is going well and the doctors and nurses are lovely.”
BLOB: Please make cheques out to The Lauren Jones Foundation and send them to 35 Hurston Close, Worthing, BN14 OAX.
Alternatively, cash and cheques can be deposited at Barclay's Bank. The account number is 73153991. The sort code is 20 98 74.
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