04/06/2025
Happy 21st to my beautiful sister!! Thank you to to the team for looking after her ♥️
🎉 Clarice’s 21st: a story of strength, support, and special moments 🎉
Today on our wards, we’re celebrating a very special young woman – Clarice is turning 21! 💐🎂
Clarice has been an inpatient at the Countess of Chester Hospital since November 2024, following her diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) – a condition that affects how the brain sends and receives signals to the body. Though it doesn’t show up on scans, FND can have a life-changing impact, causing seizures, mobility issues, and a loss of independence.
For Clarice, this has meant a huge shift – from living independently to now needing ongoing hospital care while we work with her and her family to find the right place where she can get the support she now needs to live as independently and comfortably as possible.
Spending seven months in hospital at just 20 years old is incredibly tough. But throughout her stay, our staff have gone above and beyond to make her feel supported and cared for. One touching example was at Christmas, when the team helped Clarice to decorate her side room with her very own Christmas tree – a small gesture that brought a big sense of comfort and normality during a difficult time.
That same spirit of compassion shines through today, as we celebrate her 21st birthday. The ward and therapy teams have pulled out all the stops to make the day as special as possible – with decorations, surprises, and plenty of birthday cheer.
Clarice also recently shared photos from her sister’s wedding abroad with those caring for her – a moment she couldn’t attend in person, but one she brought to life for us here on the ward.
Clarice, your resilience and positivity inspire us all. Thank you for letting us be part of your journey and special day. And a very happy birthday from all of us! 💙
