Three Generations, One Hospital: A Family’s 81-Year Connection to Sheffield Children’s

Generations of care at Sheffield Children’s

Over the past 150 years, millions of children and young people have received expert, compassionate and innovative care at Sheffield Children’s.

It’s not surprising that during this time, generations of the same family have been supported by our services in different ways.

This family’s story begins with a road accident in 1943, through polio treatment in the 1980s and continues to this day following an emergency surgery to fit a stoma in 2024.

Let us introduce you to Pauline, 89, James, 43, and little Hettie, nearly 2.

An accident in wartime Sheffield

In 1943, when she was just six, Pauline was on the way to the dentist with her older sister. Together they walked down to Rustlings Road and caught a tram to the stop outside The Rising Sun on Fulwood Road.

“After we got off and walked behind the tram, I said to my sister ‘I’ll race you across the road.’ Big mistake! An army lorry was coming down the road and I ran right into it; the force threw me to the ground and left me with multiple injuries.”

Pauline was rushed to Sheffield Children’s, where she was diagnosed with a fractured hip in two places, and a punctured bladder.

Pauline explained: “That was the start of my six weeks stay in hospital. It was war time and very few visitors were allowed, but my father was in the special police force during the war, so he was able to persuade the nurses to let him visit me occasionally!”

During the Second World War, Sheffield Children’s Hospital faced immense challenges – from blackout precautions and air raid preparations to treating casualties during the Sheffield Blitz in December 1940. Despite significant bomb damage though, staff stayed with their young patients throughout, showing extraordinary bravery and care.

In 1941, the hospital took over Fairthorn Convalescent Home in Dore to provide a safe place for children recovering from illness or injury. More than 1,400 patients were cared for there before it was handed back in 1945. Even in the most difficult times, the focus remained on children’s health and wellbeing.

For Pauline, this naturally meant a lot of time in bed to allow the two fractures to heal.

“All during that time I was well looked after by all the nurses. After discharge I have had no ill effects from that accident – which is lucky!”

Now approaching her nineties, Pauline lives in Melbourne, Australia, but loves to keep up with her family back in England.

Journey to the Paralympics

From wartime Sheffield to the 1980 and 90s, when Pauline’s great nephew James was born in Nottingham.

Unfortunately, James contracted polio at just three months old and in 1991, aged 9, he was referred to Sheffield Children’s for leg-lengthening treatment.

This involved his mum, Elizabeth, turning a key attached to the device to gradually widen the gap in the bone, allowing new bone to grow.

Sheffield Children’s Hospital was and remains a specialist centre in carrying out this kind of procedure, and has trained many leading paediatric orthopaedic surgeons. Our Paediatric Limb Reconstruction Service celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025.

James’ mum, Elizabeth said: “The process was extremely painful, and as part of his rehabilitation, the surgeon encouraged James to take up a sport, with swimming strongly recommended. This led him to join a local swimming club in Nottingham where club organised a 24-hour sponsored swim in aid of Sheffield Children’s, raising more than £1000.

“James’s talent in the pool was soon clear to us all. He went on to represent Nova Centurion Disability Swimming, competing across the UK and Europe before earning selection for the Great Britain Paralympic Team.”

Here James shone while competing in S9 classification events – which means all the swimmers have a similar level of disability such as such as single-leg amputations, joint restrictions in one leg, or double below-the-knee amputations.

He has won gold medals in the Paralympic Games as well as the International Paralympic Committee World and European championships, breaking numerous records in the process.

James eventually retired from competitive swimming following the 2016 Summer Paralympics, having won 52 international medals.

Decades later, the family’s connection to Sheffield Children’s would continue – this time with James’ niece.

Hettie’s first few days

81 years after her great great aunt Pauline’s accident with an army lorry, newborn Hettie was also being rushed to Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

She wasn’t latching on to her mother, Martha, and during her first 24 hours she hadn’t fed, passed a wet nappy, or done her first poo.

Her mother, Debs came with Hettie to Sheffield Children’s as Martha still hadn’t been discharged. She explained: “The surgical gastro team from Sheffield Children’s was called, and later that night we were in the specialist Embrace ambulance heading there.”

Embrace, part of Sheffield Children’s, is a highly specialised, round-the-clock transport service for critically ill babies and children across Yorkshire and the Humber, ensuring they receive expert care wherever they need to be.

Once at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Hettie was diagnosed with an anal malformation. The following morning, at just a day and a half old, she underwent emergency surgery to have a stoma fitted.

Hettie spent the rest of her first week on the Neonatal Surgical Unit (NSU) – the beginning of a long journey involving months of care, operations, and follow-up appointments.

Despite the challenges, the care she received made all the difference.

“The staff on NSU and Ward 1 are true superheroes,” Debs said. “It’s not just the nurses and doctors – it’s everyone. The cleaners, the play team, the people behind the scenes. They cared for me and my wife, Martha, just as much as they cared for Hettie.”

Returning to the hospital for further treatments became something more than clinical visits.

“When we came back for later surgeries, it felt like being welcomed by friends,” Debs said.

“Sheffield Children’s has always held a special place in our hearts as a family. Now, after everything they’ve done for Hettie, it means even more.”

In 2025 the family took to fundraising for a Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity snowflake to say thank you for the care they received, on fundraising they said: “Do it. Whether it’s a donation, a fundraiser, or gifting a snowflake – every bit makes a difference. Sheffield Children’s gave our daughter the very best care. Being part of something that gives back feels incredibly special.”

“We hope she grows up to thrive, explore her passions, and live life without limits. And for Sheffield Children’s – we hope it continues leading the way in children’s healthcare, research, and innovation, so every child can have the best possible start.”

Thank you Pauline, James and Hettie. Your incredible story shows how Sheffield Children’s cares for families not just in moments – but across lifetimes.