Brazilian couple Luiz and Wanessa Rodrigues saw their UK holiday turn into a nightmare last month when daughter Emanuelly was rushed to Watford General while being looked after by a babysitter.
The toddler suffered a cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated, with her brain being left without oxygen for 30 minutes.
Emanuelly suffered a serious brain injury after choking on a strawberry in Watford (Image: Supplied by Luiz Rodrigues)
Luiz told the Watford Observer: “We are feeling anguish, despair and fear. She is just a baby.
“Currently she cannot walk, talk, sit or eat normally. She takes anticonvulsant medication, sedatives and pain medication. She is fed only through a feeding tube.
“She has physical therapy a few days a week but what she needs is to begin intensive rehabilitation.”
Emanuelly with sister Isabela and mum Wanessa (Image: Supplied by Luiz Rodrigues)
Emanuelly spent seven days in a medically induced coma and doctors have told the family that she urgently needs specialist neuro‑rehabilitation treatment to give her any chance of improvement.
Emanuelly with mum Wanessa (Image: Supplied by Luiz Rodrigues)
She is currently being treated at St Mary’s Hospital in London, while her parents remain in Watford, where they were staying during their holiday.
Donate to the fundraiser for Emanuelly’s treatment here
A friend they have made in West Watford has this week started a fundraiser to support the family, who came to the UK on tourist visas and do not have medical insurance that covers their daughter’s care.
A fundraiser has been launched to support her treatment (Image: Supplied by Luis Rodrigues)
Money raised will go towards specialist therapy and rehabilitation, medical equipment and supplies, transport to appointments, basic living expenses, and any legal or professional support needed to explore visas or treatment options.
Luiz said: “In the last few days her heart rate has been very high which worries us and she is also very nervous and agitated, unable to sleep properly.
Emanuelly Rodrigues (Image: Supplied by Luiz Rodrigues)
“She also has vision problems, which could be temporary or not.”
He added that donations will help his “little angel” to be comfortable, safe and have a higher quality of life.
At time of writing, just under £2,500 has been raised of the £16,000 target.
The Brazilian consulate has so far been unable to assist the family and returning home would be “extremely difficult” as the specialist treatment Emanuelly needs is not accessible there, while the flight length would also not be safe.
Donations can be made by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-please-help-emanuelly-and-her-family-after-accident
She is currently being treated at St Mary’s Hospital in London (Image: Supplied by Luiz Rodrigues)