A SPECIALIST physiotherapist who played a key role in the recovery of a Gullane schoolgirl has received a top award.

Poppy Smith spent more than six months in hospital after being diagnosed with a rare condition which left her unable to swallow or move her arm.

Andrea Wood, a specialist physiotherapist in intensive care at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, helped the then six-year-old get back on her feet after being diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis.

Poppy’s mum, Laura, put Andrea’s name forward for the Scottish Health Awards, which took place earlier this month at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange, to say thank you for all her efforts.

Both Laura and Poppy (pictured below), now seven, were “absolutely delighted” to see Andrea’s efforts recognised with the Therapist of the Year title.

East Lothian Courier:

Laura said: “Andrea worked with Poppy throughout her inpatient stay and Poppy would not have progressed in her recovery without Andrea. Andrea worked so hard to establish a positive relationship with Poppy: reading to her, playing games, tailoring physio sessions to her likes and dislikes.

“This was really important as often what Poppy needed to do in her rehab sessions was painful and tiring.

“Andrea even set up a weekly disco to motivate Poppy and to enable her to dance again.

“Andrea made sure that as a family, we all felt involved and included in her rehab.

“Andrea is a star and thoroughly deserves the recognition.”

Andrea, of Dalkeith, described winning the award as “overwhelming” and added she was “quite surprised and so touched”.

She said: “Poppy’s family were amazing and it was an honour and pleasure to work with them.

“For me to be able to help in any possible way was fantastic.

“To see how far she has come is just a delight.”

Acute Flaccid Myelitis affected Poppy’s spinal cord and caused painful nerve damage throughout her body. Within 24 hours, Poppy had lost the ability to swallow and move her right arm.

Then when her condition deteriorated further, breathing became difficult and she developed pneumonia.

She was sedated and ventilated and underwent a tracheotomy procedure.

It was feared that she would never walk again but, slowly, Andrea and Poppy worked together, using innovative methods and ‘disco Fridays’ to get her out of her wheelchair and back on her feet.

Andrea said: “When you work in the NHS, you want to care for patients. So if it takes me five minutes at the end of my day to build a relationship by reading a story or to come in on my day off to ensure the right equipment is there, then it is just a few minutes here or there to me.

“But it could make a huge difference to a family.”