18 years after being run over by a skip truck and being told she may never walk again, at 24 years old, Millie has crossed the line of the Manchester Marathon. It is the latest milestone in Millie’s journey that has also seen her backpack around the world, work for the United Nations in South Korea investigating war crimes, and prepare to begin a Master of Laws degree this September.
But none of it seemed possible when she was just six years old, when Millie was involved in a serious road traffic accident where she was run over by a skip truck.
She sustained life-threatening injuries, including crushed femurs and damage to her lower spine that caused nerve paralysis. Her injuries also meant that she required both a colostomy and a catheter bag.
Millie was taken by ambulance to Whiston Hospital before being transferred to Alder Hey for life-saving surgery due to the severity of her injuries.
Over the following ten years, she underwent 21 major operations at Alder Hey to reconstruct her spine, bowel, bladder and femurs, alongside numerous smaller procedures following infections and other complications.
And with support from Alder Hey, Millie successfully learnt to walk again. She was also able to have her colostomy reversed and no longer needed a catheter bag.
Millie said: “I truly owe so much of who I am today to Alder Hey. The care I received there gave me the opportunity not only to survive, but to build the life I have today, and for that I will always be incredibly grateful.”
Following her recovery, Mille has achieved things she never thought would be possible. She completed her undergraduate degree, spent two years backpacking around the world and worked for the United Nations in South Korea investigating war crimes.
In 2026, she completed the Manchester Marathon and is now preparing to begin her Master of Laws degree in September.
Millie said: “Because of Alder Hey, I have been able to live a life that once seemed impossible. I learnt to walk again. I graduated from university. I backpacked across the world. And this year, I ran the Manchester Marathon.
There was once a time when I couldn’t walk. But Alder Hey didn’t just help me walk again. They helped me run.
Millie
“I fail to find the words for this hospital. Of course, there are many painful memories within its walls, but when I look back, the memories that stay with me most are the love, kindness and care I received from every member of staff.
“It feels strange, in a way, to have good memories from something so traumatic, but that is what Alder Hey is. It is more than just a hospital. It is a pillar of the community and a reflection of the warmth and compassion that exists throughout Liverpool and the wider region. As a local girl, it is one of the things I am most proud of.”