Ashlea's big ‘thank you’ to life-saving medics

Ashlea Lovell (left) and Michelle Lovell with a poster promoting the 14th anniversary fundriaising event for NeuroCare Sheffield, at her business Ashlea's Baby, Childrens Wear and Accessories at Conisbrough. 171633

A SHOP owner who was back at work just weeks after her life was saved by a brain operation is planning a big thank you to the medics who treated her.

Ashlea Lovell (43), owner of Ashlea’s designer babywear shop on Wembley Avenue, Conisbrough, is to hold a fundraiser for Sheffield Hallamshire Hospital’s neurosurgery wing.

Surgeons removed a cyst from Ashlea’s brain just weeks ago in a nine-hour operation thought to be the first of its kind in the UK and she was back at the shop just weeks later.

Now she and her sister Michelle (31) are preparing for their family fun day from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, October 21.

They have decided to mark the 14th anniversary of the shop with a packed day of face painting, cup cake and discount sales.

A raffle will offer top prizes such as paintballing tickets, Sheffield United tickets, a watch and meat vouchers.

Ashlea said she was so grateful to the medical staff that she had felt compelled to do her bit.

“A year ago, I became ill and was rushed to Doncaster Royal Infirmary and they did a CT scan and found a cyst on my brain,” she said.

“They referred me to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital where I had an MRI scan which confirmed the cyst was ten millimetres in size.”

Ashlea said she had told that if she could put up with the symptoms such as headaches and forgetting words she need not have an operation, but she had become unwell on a trip to Cleethorpes and was rushed into hospital, where she had the crucial operation.

Ashlea said: “I want to thank my sister Michelle and my mum and dad, and my kids — Damion, Daniella, and Eleshea. I also want to thank my customers and reps — Cheryl Hynes from Little Darlings, David James from Pretty Original, and all the girls at Sarah Louise.

“Also, I want to pay tribute to all the nursing staff and doctors on ward N2 at the hospital — it’s absolutely amazing what they do there.

“Now I don’t have that cloud hanging over me that I might not wake up tomorrow.

“Before the operation, every night I went to bed and had a cry.”