Teen plans hospital abseil after successful surgery

A teenager is preparing to abseil down St Thomas' Hospital following a successful surgery to correct a rare knee condition.

Lacey Ward, 18, was diagnosed with miserable malalignment syndrome (MMS) at 14, a condition where the thigh bone rotates inwards but the shin bone rotates outwards, causing chronic knee pain and instability.

After three procedures between 2024 and 2026 at Evelina London Children's Hospital, Ward is abseiling 160 ft (48.77m) on Saturday to fundraise for the children's hospital charity.

"The care from Evelina is amazing. They got me through my diagnosis when I thought nobody was able to help me," Ward, from Dover, said.

"When I got the diagnosis, I remember feeling really sad and breaking down in tears because I didn't know what was ahead of me," she said.

Following a full recovery, the 18-year-old has returned to doing theatre productions and said she can run normally again.

Ward's 10-year-old brother is also being treated for MMS by the same team at the hospital.

"I want to give back what they have given to me," Ward added.

She has raised £431 so far for the charity, surpassing her original goal of £300.

All donations to the charity will help fund research, therapeutic play, family support and enhancements to the hospital environment, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust said.

Rob Halkyard, executive director of Evelina London Children's Charity, said: "Taking on this challenge shows how far she's come since her diagnosis, and the extraordinary things patients will do to thank the exceptional Evelina staff for their care."

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