A FIVE-YEAR OLD girl who almost lost her legs after she was hit by a lorry has finally been reunited with the paramedic who saved her life.
Maria Turkowska came face-to-face with the medic who rushed to her aid last October in Waterhouse Lane, Chelmsford, when the accident with the lorry left her with open fractures, and in need of countless operations to save her legs.
Kerry White tended to Maria at the scene and was forced to cut through her much-loved coat to help with the then four-year-old's injuries, but promised to buy her a new one when the worst was over.
Kat Turkowska, Maria's mother, said: "It was really nice to meet her. We've been trying to arrange this for a while. I remember her face like it was yesterday.
"She gave Maria Next vouchers to buy the same coat that she had before the accident. It was a lovely day."
Maria had just left Westlands Community Primary School on October 21 last year with her father Jarek when she was hit by the lorry after stepping out into Waterhouse Lane.
Paramedic Kerry recalled the moment she was forced to cut through the girl's coat so she could get access to the serious injuries Maria sustained.
Speaking after the meeting at Chelmsford ambulance station, Kerry said: "It's fantastic to see them again and seeing Maria today you wouldn't believe what had happened to her.
"She was so brave and never cried once until I had to cut her coat, so I promised that I would make it up to her with some vouchers."
It had been feared the youngster would lose her legs but doctors managed to save them, and after spending months in a brace, she is expected to be able to walk again in the future, while there are plans for her to return to school on a part-time basis by January next year.
Kat said: "Right now she has a home teacher from her school, she has the normal school routine at home. She still has to go to a London hospital once or twice a week for check-ups; it's just a slow process."
Maria has undergone several operations to have metal rods inserted into her legs to ensure her bones are healing in the right way, and only recently had a plaster cast removed.
"The last time we had the frame removed was six weeks ago. The next one is August 5 to see if she needs the metal one in. She did walk with the plaster on but now that has taken a step back because of the pain she has," said Kat.
"The left tibula hasn't healed yet, so she is going to have a scan on July 28 so the doctor can decide if she needs a rod or a bone graph. The main thing is that they are improved and saved so we're not worried on how they look; we just need the left leg to heal.
"She says she is happy and feeling okay. She likes to play with the dog and face paint now. Everything is going in a good way."
