Case Studies - Jodie

Jodie has Hunters Syndrome and is in constant pain. She has undergone many operations and has recently been told that she will need to use a wheelchair to move around school due to the deteriorating ability of her ankle and knee joints which have been caused by Psoriatic Arthritis. She started using a manual wheelchair but her wrists started to become too swollen to cope with the pressure. She is now using an electric chair but this has meant that she has lost her independent mobility. Her hips have become dislocated and her joints too damaged to repair, which means that daily tasks like going to the toilet involve assistance and hoisting. Jodie in on pain medication and at the age of 14 currently weighs just over 3 stone. Great care needs to be taken around Jodie as the slightest touch can cause her dramatic pain. Because of this, even her mother cannot touch her to help soothe away the pain. She comments "Usually the best I can do is sit close by because physical contact is excrutiating for her"

You might assume that such disabilities would cause Jodie to have a restricted life. In fact, she attends Bradford Academy, a mainstream school where she is well known for her cheerful disposition. Jodie won Bravest Child in WellChild's Awards in 2007 and she travelled to London to meet Prince Harry and attended a star-studded awards ceremony, where Westlife and Rod Stewart were among the guests of honour.

"She's positive, motivated, determined. In over 30 years of teaching, I have known no one more deserving"

Teacher Pauline Rossiter