Paralysed Worthing teenager spends 14th birthday in hospital (From The Argus)

Paralysed Worthing teenager spends 14th birthday in hospital

12:00pm Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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Brave Lauren Jones, the keen footballer who fell from a tree and broke her spine, has celebrated her 14th birthday in hospital.

Since the accident on June 13 the teenager has been “an inspiration” to her family and doctors at Southampton General Hospital where she is being treated.

Despite being told she will never walk again, Lauren has maintained a positive attitude which has left medical staff astounded.

Yesterday, as she turned 14, Lauren received a flood of cards, presents and visitors wishing her a happy birthday.

Among the many well-wishers were Graham Murty, the former captain of Reading Football Club where Lauren is a season ticket holder.

Lauren, of Offington Drive, Worthing, was sitting in a tree at Chichester Marina with her best friend when she lost her balance and fell almost 20ft last month.

She hit two branches on the way down and landed on her back, shattering one of her vertebrae and cracking three others.

She was rushed by the police helicopter to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester and then transferred to Southampton General Hospital where she has undergone two major operations.

In the first she had two metal rods inserted into her back to support her spine and in the second one of her ribs was removed, crushed and packed into a metal cage built around her shattered vertebra.

Lauren said: “My ribs are really painful but I'm ok and I'm recovering considering what they have had to do.”

Just two days before the accident, keen striker Lauren had successfully qualified for the final stages of Brighton and Hove Albion's youth trials.

But even though her dream footballing career has been cut short by the accident, Lauren is already looking to the future and the possibility of what other sports she can do.

To help her, The Argus has launched the Lauren Jones Appeal.

The fund will raise cash to help Lauren's family pay for a specialist wheelchair for her.

It is being organised through The Argus Appeal.

Lauren said: “It's cool that everyone wants to raise money for me.

“I am really grateful, thanks everyone.”

Her father, Mike, said: “This appeal is going to be a huge boost for us and it is very moving to know that people care and want to contribute to Lauren's future. It's fantastic.”

The Lauren Jones Appeal aims to raise as much money as possible to support Lauren and her family but it needs your help.

A fundraising group set up by friends of Lauren's family wants businesses, clubs and organisations to organise their own sponsored events to raise money for Lauren.

Whether it is a fun run, a football tournament or a fancy-dress day, every penny will help contribute to the estimated £17,000 cost of a wheelchair for her.

Anyone interested in organising an event should email ian.macgregor@orange.net.

The cash raised will then be fed into The Argus' Lauren Jones Appeal.

Donations to the Lauren Jones Appeal can be made in a variety of ways.

Cheques made payable to The Argus Appeal – Lauren Jones can be sent to The Argus Appeal Lauren Jones, Argus House, Crowhurst Road, Hollingbury, Brighton, BN1 8AR.

Cash donations can also be handed in to The Argus offices in Hollingbury and in Church Road, Hove.

Credit card donations can also be made online at www.justgiving.com/laurenjonesappeal.

Please remember to fill out a Gift Aid form to maximise the amount of money raised.