Girl regains memory after crash thanks to video from pupils

Published on Thursday 8 October 2009 10:06

WHEN Francesca Naismith woke up in the Sick Kids Hospital after being knocked off her bike, she couldn't even recognise her father.

But despite suffering a severe brain injury less than two months ago, the 11-year-old has made a full recovery – and it's all with a little help from her friends.

Francesca was knocked off a friend's bike just yards from her Penicuik home on 15 August, and was rushed to hospital with a police escort to be admitted to intensive care.

She regained consciousness several days later having lost her memory and being left unable to walk, talk, or recognise her family.

Incredibly, she is now practically back to her old self, and back at Sacred Heart Primary School three days a week.

Father Peter Naismith, who is a single parent, said his daughter had received a huge boost from her friends at the school as she regained her health and her memory.

The youngsters visited her in hospital, wrote letters, and even made a video of themselves to help remind her of her old life.

Mr Naismith, 50, said: "She came round, but she didn't know who we were. It was just a blank, vacant look about her. They couldn't tell me if she was going to recover."

After a slow start to her recovery, things picked up when Francesca started receiving gifts and visits from her school friends.

He said: "They were taking in wee letters and they made a wee film, and one day she watched that to try and jog her memories.

"It was all the kids saying 'We want you to get better and come home'. You could see the expression on her face, she loved it.

"When they could get somebody to take the kids in, they were coming in two or three at a time. She'd see her pals coming in and it was brilliant to see."

Francesca said the film had brought mixed emotions. She said: "My friends brought in photographs to the hospital, and they did a film at school which was good. I was really sad because they were thinking about me a lot, but it was nice to see them."

Recalling the accident in Carlops Crescent, Penicuik, Mr Naismith said: "I was just about to start cooking the evening meal and my nephew's wife came in and said Francesca had been knocked off a bike. I just ran out and she was on the ground unconscious.

"I wasn't allowed in the ambulance at first and then one of the officers came out and said 'We're going to need a police escort', and that's when I broke down."

Her recovery has amazed Mr Naismith and Francesca's six big brothers and sisters, who range in age from 12 to 19.

Mr Naismith said: "Most of the time you've got to try and blank it out and not worry about it, but there was the odd time that you started thinking about it and it was awfully hard to take."

The youngster returned home for short visits before finally getting home for good at the end of last month.