A FUNDRAISER is being held to help a teenager with severe cerebral palsy who was left on life support a virus and flu nearly killed her.

Maisy Munnery, 14, has spent the past four and a half weeks in hospital after suffering a virus, the flu and then pneumonia.

She was taken to intensive care in St Mary's Hospital in London where she was put on life-support.

Despite recovering and being transferred to Colchester General Hospital, Maisy has lost her ability to eat and drink herself.

Mum Sophie, said: "She has been really really poorly.

"She was expected to come home on Monday but had another setback.

"It's taken it's toll on her, she was ventilated for just over two weeks.

"It's now about rehabilitation, we are having to reteach her things.

"We need to build her strength up, her muscle tone has suffered and her scoliosis is more pronounced now and is impairing her lungs.

"She is not back to our little Maisy yet.

"The last couple of years she has been working so hard and was managing to achieve some more thing but this has knocked her off her feet, it's so cruel.

"It's been an absolute nightmare."

A fundraising page was set up in a bid to help raise funds to help with the ongoing care and rehabilitation needs Maisy has, including hydrotherapy and music therapy as well as equipment to help her life at home and out and about.

But the family from Dovercourt has now paid out huge costs during her stay in hospital in London and more rehabilitation and physiotherapy will be needed when she gets home.

Ramsey War Memorial Hall is hosting a Pancakes and Puddings Supper to fundraise for Maisy on March 16 from 5pm to 7pm.

The event will include bingo and a quiz with prizes, hot and cold drinks for sale and a raffle as well as a range of pancakes and desserts within the ticket price.

Sophie added: "We didn't know if she was going to get through this.

"We never take life for granted but it puts things into perspective.

"Throughout her life we have been able to provide the things she needs with the support of the community.

"We wouldn't have been able to do it all without that support.

"This has turned our world upside down and we have pulled on that support."

Maisy might now need new equipment as well as specialist support to recover from her illness and the impact of her stay in hospital at home.

She was born nine weeks early and suffered brain haemorrhages leaving her blind.

Tickets for Pancakes and Puddings are on sale at £5 each from Pages Butchers Ramsey, the hall's community library each Thursday between 10am and 12noon or by calling 07858 363869.

To donate to the fundraising page visit gogetfunding.com/for-the-love-of-maisy/