A SIX-YEAR-OLD left blind in one eye by a rare disorder is urging the region to help NHS staff buy state-of-the-art equipment.

Schoolgirl Helena Trow is backing the Retinal Development Appeal which aims to raise £175,000 to enhance patient care at the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.

Eye outpatient staff launched the fundraising drive in a bid to buy an optical coherence tomography scanner which would help clinicians quickly diagnose sight-threatening conditions.

Helena has been under the care of the team since she was born with morning glory syndrome (MGS), a congenital deformity of the optic nerve.

The incurable condition left blue-eyed Helena half-blind and meant she recently underwent cataract surgery and is currently awaiting a further operation.

Helena, of Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, now wants to help the team of medics who are still helping her cope with the condition.

“My eye gets itchy and sore, I’m used to it but my lifetime wish is to see with two eyes," she said.

“The doctors and nurses are trying to help me do that and they’re very kind to me and helpful.

“The machine will help them look at my eyes but they don’t have enough money to buy it and they need some help so they can look after people like me.

“It’s important to help them because they work hard and make people feel better.”

Her mother, Jane, said: “The clinic makes a big difference to us and others and to have the scanner means they will be able to spot any changes with Helena and catch problems early.

“The clinic makes a huge difference to families like ours – when you go there, there’s a huge range of people, from the very elderly to babies waiting for help.

“It’s always so busy but the staff are so kind and nice to children which makes what could be a very upsetting and stressful time much easier.

“Eye health is important to everybody and problems can affect anybody at any time and you don’t know when you will need a service like this.”

She added: "Any illness your child has is heartbreaking as you can’t do anything about it.

“Helena’s my little hero, she deals with a lot of intrusive, uncomfortable procedures bravely and I’m in awe of her and how she takes it all in her stride, she’s so brave.”

To support the appeal, visit: justgiving.com/eyescannerappeal