Hannah Lindfield

These were difficult years for Hannah though. She had to be fed first by a TPN line and then a PEG. She was diagnosed with anorexia which was complicated by her having digestion and gut problems too. At this time, she was living at home with her younger two siblings, Lamorna and Oliver. Her older brother Josh was away in Newcastle at University. They were an amazingly strong unit, very protective of their sister and Hannah protective of them but they also had the normal sibling tiffs and squabbles! There was only 14 months between the girls so they were like twins, they understood each other intuitively. With a traccy in place Hannah found it difficult to speak clearly in primary school, but Lamorna always understood her and explained to others what she was trying to say. Even in the later years when Hannah was in ICU and could only mouth words silently, it was Lamorna we turned to for translation!

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Hannah once again bounced back and started a Fine Art Degree in Plymouth University at the College of Art and Design. Her older brother taught her to climb on indoor climbing walls and sail in a local river. No mean feat when without your Bone Anchored Hearing Aids, you are totally deaf! And Oliver became her artist’s aide. In her second year she decided she wanted to try living away from home and be a 'real student'. A brave decision and with her direct payments she employed carers to help her to live independently and moved into a flat walking distance from her studies. Sadly, ill health meant she had to move back home but her art was really starting to take off so we built what we fondly call the 'Shed' in the garden. This was her space where she could throw brushes and canvases, brew a cup of tea and be as independent as possible, but above all paint, paint, paint.

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In September 2014 while visiting hospital for a routine Speech and Language appointment at the National Neurological Hospital, Hannah collapsed and was whisked into ICU with an illness that turned into double pneumonia and various other complications. She was in a coma for two weeks, lost the ability to swallow and to speak and developed a weakness in her right hand side. She was in ICU for 3 months, underwent further major surgery but fought back and was home for Christmas........just! Her father was stopped crossing the Tamar Bridge into Cornwall on Christmas Eve bringing her home. After much discussion Hannah recognised that returning to her studies would not be possible. She hated the fact that she had to give in to her health but she was constantly in a great deal of pain and was now back on a PEG feed for many hours of the day.

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Around this time her grandmother introduced her to a wonderful Italian lady, a retired teacher and a close friendship began. Alba recognised immediately that Hannah needed a project, needed to be busy and so began the writing of Hannah’s book, 'Invisible Struggle'. Hannah wanted to write a book to help and inspire other children and young people like herself. She had been through some very difficult times, particularly during her secondary education. She felt that there was very little support for teenagers and young people and she wanted this to be recognised and to get better support for others. Hannah began to write and produce poetry, some of her most vibrant and captivating art was painted in these months. With her loss of movement no longer allowing use of a paintbrush, she painted with a palette knife or wood.