A TEENAGER has endured a ten-year battle with blindness when chemotherapy treatment left her with just 10% vision.

Lizzie Firth, 18, of Westleigh, has acute early onset glaucoma, having received treatment for acute lymphatic leukaemia when she was only eight years old.

But charity WellChild organised a transformation to give Lizzie, who loves being outside, access to her garden safely. The ‘Helping Hands’ team were brought in to enable Lizzie to access her garden by creating a path and a decked area where the family can sit together.

They also added a boundary so Lizzie’s brother, who has learning difficulties, can also play safely in the garden. The family said this will greatly improve their quality of life and help them during this difficult time. Lizzie remained positive despite the changes in her life and was happy to be able to benefit from being outdoors more regularly. Lee Trunks, Helping Hands project manager, said: “The two days went really well despite the cold weather, and everyone got stuck in and stayed cheerful. “The volunteers were keen to learn new skills and do all that was asked of them.

“The end result was just how we hoped and the family were very obviously pleased with the difference their new garden will make to their lives.

“It was a successful project all round.”

WellChild, the national charity for sick children, deals with the consequences of serious illness and complex conditions.