Christmas comes early for sick children at Great Ormond Street

Children with serious illnesses at Great Ormond Street Hospital were today treated to early Christmas presents.

Twenty five volunteers from the Disney Store visited every ward to deliver a gift to each patient.

As some of the children prepared to spend Christmas in hospital, the Evening Standard met some of the patients being treated at the Squirrel Ward for children undergoing urology or general surgery.

Cordelia Whitbread, who suffers from bladder and bowel problems, was one of them. The nine-year-old, who has braved more than 10 operations over the past seven years, was delighted with her gift from Disney.

Her mother Annette Bird said: "Cordelia has had a really rough couple of days and I haven't seen her smile like this for a long time. We're so thankful.

"She's having surgery again tomorrow but we're hopefully only in for two weeks this time so we might make it home for Christmas."

Cordelia, of Halstead, Essex, added: "All I want for Christmas is to get better but my big wish is to go swimming."

One of the youngest patients on the ward is three-and-a-half-week-old Philomena McCarthy from Luton, who had been in the hospital since she was born. Her 21-year-old mother, Corina McCarthy, said: "Hopefully we'll be out for Christmas but I'm not too bothered - all I want is for her to be healthy, nothing else matters."

Another patient who has spent most of his short life at the hospital, and is expected to remain there for another six weeks, is John Williams.

The 16-month-old, who suffers from Hirschsprung's disease, a rare disorder of the bowels that affects only one in 5,000 babies, was yesterday diagnosed with Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel condition.

His mother Betsy Saunders, said the hospital had become their "second home". Ms Saunders, 21, from Gravesend, Kent, added: "These presents mean so much to us - it's very thoughtful. We could be here on Christmas day, my family will visit if we are. I hope we're out but I don't want to get my hopes up and be disappointed."

For the past three years, the Disney Store has donated thousands of toys to the City hospital as part of its Share the Magic campaign which raises money for more that 50 charities.

Disney Store marketing director Amy Pearson said: "Today is all about sharing the magic of Christmas with kids who are going through particularly tough times."

The chain is also donating 25 per cent of all sales of cards, tags, wrapping paper and other Christmas products to Great Ormond Street Children's Charity.