'Determined' 12-year-old learns to walk again after breaking her back

A 12-year-old girl has mounted her pony less than a year after breaking her back in an accident, with doctors fearing she would never walk again.

Eleanor Bloom was badly hurt when a trailer door fell on her and snapped her vertebrae.

At first medics didn't believe she was hurt and sent her home to Hollington, Staffordshire, and Eleanor put on a brave face because she was determined to go the pony camp with her horse, Clover.

But the next morning, Eleanor could not move her legs and she was rushed to the Royal Stoke University Hospital where an X-ray confirmed she had broken her spinal cord.

She was then transferred to RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry and doctors warned Eleanor's parents, Janine and Jason Bloor, that their daughter may never walk again.

Now, Eleanor is not only back riding her pony regularly, she is leading a sponsored walk to raise money for the hospital where she was treated.

Eleanor did everything her doctors told her.

Throughout her ordeal, Eleanor kept pictures of Clover by her bedside to remind her of what she wanted to achieve, while her parents and younger sister Charlotte, aged eight, kept vigil by her bedside.

She also received regular visits and support from friends and family.

In July, 11 months after her accident, she was able to mount her pony Clover.

Now Eleanor hopes to raise around £5,000 to buy specialist children’s play equipment for the RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, to say 'thank you' for the care she received – and has already received a £750 donation from digger maker JCB.

And as of September 10, Eleanor has raised just shy of £2,000 towards her target.

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