A seven-year-old girl who suffered a stroke while going down a park slide faces 'a tough road ahead' after 12 failed attempts to reach a blood clot on her brain forced doctors to remove a third of her skull.
Charliee Sue Salisbury was at her local park with her father, Danny Salisbury, 43, and their pet dog, Nala, when he 'instantly' noticed a sudden change to his daughter's face on February 9.
Waiting for her at the bottom of a tube slide, Danny saw his daughter emerge with the left side of her face was drooping, before she collapsed as she tried to stand up.
The youngster - who has Down Syndrome - was rushed toWatford General Hospital, Hertfordshire, where a CT scan revealed Charliee had suffered a stroke caused by a large blood clot in her brain.
Charliee was then transferred to the Royal LondonHospital with Danny and her mother, Hannah, 40, where she underwent a five-hour surgery.
During the procedure, surgeons tried 12 times to remove the clot, but were unsuccessful.
In the early hours of February 10, another surgeon fromGreat Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) removed a third of Charliee's skull as her brain had become 'dangerously swollen'.
She remained under sedation for the next four days and is now awake, but has endured 'severe damage' to the right side of her brain after the repeated attempts to remove the clot.
Charliee Sue Salisbury, 7, from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, faces 'a tough road ahead' after she suffered a stroke while going down a slide at her local park
The youngster underwent a five-hour surgery for a clot on her brain, but despite 12 attempts doctors were unable to remove it
Another surgeon from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) removed a third of Charliee's skull as her brain had become 'dangerously swollen'
Charliee spent six days in ICU before being transferred to a high-dependency unit and then a shared ward, where she has remained since receiving daily physiotherapy.
At present, Charliee is unable to speak or move the left side of her body, and is being fed through a tube.
She will need further surgery in the months ahead for a metal plate to be fitted to her skull, while doctors estimate she will need at least three months to recover in a rehabilitation centre.
Before her stroke, the youngster had previously been in hospital after undergoing open heart surgery.
Heartbroken father Danny, a delivery driver from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, said: 'As soon as I saw Charliee coming down the slide, I knew something wasn't right - she didn't have the same glow in her beautiful face.
'We were blue-lighted to the hospital, because we knew it was a race against time.
'When they confirmed it was a stroke, we were hoping the damage was minimal.
'The hours of surgery Charliee had were the longest of our lives, but we're thankful for the medics' amazing efforts.
The youngster before her stroke, pictured with her mother, Hannah, and father, Danny
Charliee (pictured on a slide in previous times) is described by family and friends as a girl who 'finds delight in everything'
The youngster is now awake and recovering in hospital, but is unable to speak or move the left side of her body and is being fed through a tube
Doctors estimate she will need at least three months to recover in a rehabilitation centre
'Since she's come around, every day, we are hoping for a miracle.
'She recognises her mum and I, but she can't say much - just mumbles.
'Charliee is a treasure - singing and dancing was her life.
'The night before her stroke, she was dancing around the kitchen way past her bedtime.
'I'd give anything to have her do the same right now.'
Danny and Hannah, a nursery worker - who share five other children, aged 26, 23, 21, 20, 17- were left 'panicked' when Charliee's left side of her face 'suddenly drooped' when going down the slide.
'I instantly knew something wasn't right and when we got to the hospital, medics confirmed my worst fear - that she had suffered a stroke caused by a blood clot,' Danny said.
'We haven't left her side and are so thankful for the generous support Charliee has received.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the youngster's family, who will need to adapt their home for Charliee as she recovers from her stroke
Doctors are still not clear on the reasons why Charliee had a stroke. Pictured: The youngster dancing at her Hertfordshire home
'Medics still aren't able to advise what caused the stroke and we don't know what her future will look like.
'I miss seeing our little girl dance around, she has that kind of infectious joy.
'If I wasn't there to notice the sudden change in her, I dread to think where we'd be.'
A close family friend has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise £10,000 towards adapting their home and reducing their financial strain.
A statement on the GoFundMe page describes Charliee as 'a happy girl' who faces 'a very tough long road ahead to whatever the recovery will be.'
It adds: 'She finds delight in everything and loves nothing more than to sing, go down the slide in the park in our area near her house and spend time with her family and absolutely adores her dog Nala.
'As a child with Down Syndrome she has always faced challenges, and at two-years-old she had open heart surgery to rectify a condition that is not uncommon in Down syndrome children.
''Cheeky Charliee', she became known by the nurses, bounced back and continued to thrive, entering mainstream school and becoming known for her boisterous personality and is loved and known in our community.
Charliee has faced other medical issues previously, including having to undergo open heart surgery, and is deaf in one ear
'In the last 12 months it was discovered that Charliee is deaf in one ear and has cataracts in both eyes.
'Nevertheless, she threw herself into life and found joy each day, making us laugh with her antics and loving personality, she touches the hearts of so many people.
'[Her] family and GOSH don't know what the future looks like, but know it will be different and difficult on both Charliee and her family.
'The challenges that Charliee would already face have just got a lot bigger.'
Danny added: 'Hannah and I aren't able to work at the moment and we'll have to have the downstairs renovated for Charliee, because she can't get to her upstairs bedroom.
'We've been blown away by the generosity so far and would be grateful for any continued support.'
