Eva’s story

Eva suffered a spinal cord injury when she was 10 years old, leaving her unable to walk or control her bowel and bladder. Life turned upside down for the family – but ERIC helped them to manage and feel less alone.

Eva and Mollie Pearce smiling and holding our mini mascots Wee and Poo, in front of an ERIC banner

Eva (left) with TV star Mollie Pearce (right), who is reading her story out for ERIC's BBC Radio 4 Appeal.

Eva was a healthy, happy young girl who loved gymnastics, ice skating and dancing. One day, when she was just 10, she was at her mum’s birthday meal when her legs suddenly gave way beneath her.

That night, she was hospitalised, in severe pain and unable to walk. Eva says: “I wasn’t sure what was going on – I was wetting the bed and having toilet accidents during the day, and I couldn’t control it. It was scary.”

Investigations showed that a blood clot on Eva’s spine had burst, damaging her nerves – including those of her bowel and bladder.

How life changed

Over six months in hospital, Eva had surgery and learned to walk again and she succeeded, although now, aged 14, she still relies often on a wheelchair due to fatigue.

She has also had to learn to manage her own continence needs with the help of a bladder and bowel nurse. She’s been incredibly brave, but it was far from easy.

Eva had to perform a bowel irrigation every morning and learn to change her catheter. She struggled to get to school many days and once, she had a toileting accident there in front of friends.

Eva’s mum Rachel said: “She just dissolved. It was the end of the world. She lost her confidence and said, what if it happens again?”

Through teenage years, periods started, causing further bowel and bladder difficulties. Socialising and activities were hard, and she missed out on so many childhood experiences.

The family struggled to get used to their new life. Eva was anxious and stressed about her continence problems, and her mum was exhausted. The family felt nobody understood, because bowel and bladder issues are so stigmatised.

How ERIC helped

One day, a nurse told them about ERIC’s website. Eva read advice and stories of other young people with continence conditions. Finally, she didn’t feel so alone.

Rachel says: “We looked at the website and realised we weren’t the only ones going through this. It’s then that we stopped trying not to fight it; we began embracing it and going with the flow.”

Eva joined ERIC’s Young Champions – a group of determined young people with bowel and bladder conditions working together to break the stigma. The Young Champions have produced videos and blogs to raise awareness and support other young people with bowel and bladder conditions.

Now, Eva manages her own continence needs including her intermittent catheter. The family have learned to work around Eva’s needs and, with great perseverance, she’s able to do many things she loves again including road trips, theatre shows and even horse riding.

When asked what she would tell other young people with bowel and bladder problems, Eva said: “I’d just say, don’t worry about it. Don’t get stressed about it. There are some things you can’t control but you get better at learning how to manage it, and remember that you are not alone in this – there are other people going through it and help is out there.”

BBC Radio 4 Appeal

Eva shared her story to support ERIC as part of Radio 4’s Christmas Appeal. Mollie Pearce, former healthcare worker and contestant on BBC show The Traitors, read Eva’s story on her behalf.

Mollie was diagnosed with bowel condition ulcerative colitis aged 11 and experienced continence difficulties throughout her teenage years, like Eva does. She now wears a stoma. Listen to BBC Sounds to hear their story.

Please make your donation between 22 - 28 December. Donations made outside of this window may not come to ERIC.

Once this date has passed, please make any donations you wish to make to ERIC via our website donate page.

Donate to help young people like Eva

It costs around £40 for a continence expert to provide 30 minutes’ telephone support to parents of children and young people like Eva.

Your donations mean we can keep offering that service and online support, so parents and children struggling with bladder and bowel issues can receive the reassurance and advice they need.

Please give what you can so we can continue to give parents and children the gift of a listening ear this Christmas.

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