An 11-year-old old who underwent emergency brain surgery after suffering a common cold will lose her long tresses as a thank you to the professionals who cared for her.

Ella-Louise Foster, of Robert Street in Deal, started having frequent headaches after she caught a cold in the February half term this year.

Having complained to her mother Charlotte Weller, 31, she attended various doctor’s appointments and it was thought the headaches could have been a side effect of puberty.

But one night when listless Ella-Louise started speaking incoherently, her mother called 999 and the Sandown Primary School pupil was rushed to QEQM Hopsital in Margate.

An MRI scan the next day identified a growth on her brain. Ella-Louise was then blue-lighted to King’s College Hospital in London where she underwent a three-and-a-half-hour operation to remove the 5cm round mass.

Even during the surgery, her family were unsure what the mass was. It was later found to be an abscess, thought to have been caused by a sinus infection.

She was released from King’s to the QEQM on April 1 and continued to receive medication by intravenous therapy until May 1.

Ella-Louise’s family say the care given by staff at the Rainbow Ward was second to none.

They even organised transport for Ella-Louise, whose parents do not drive, allowing her to come home for half a day during the final weeks of her after-care.

Now, the youngster and her mum will have their long hair cut into bobs to say thank you.

It will be cut by a hairdresser at Cherish Hair and Beauty Studio in West Street, Deal, at 4pm today.

Money raised will go to the Rainbow Ward at QEQM and their lost locks will be donated to the Little Princess Trust, who make wigs free of charge to children and young adults who have lost their own hair due to cancer.

Ella-Louise’s grandmother Lesley Frajt said: “It was a dreadful time, extremely traumatic.

“Up until the point when she went down to surgery, she was just getting worse and worse.

“We were told that had we waited another 48 hours, it could have killed her.

“We’re just so thankful that we called the ambulance when we did.”

She continued: “All of the doctors and nurses were amazing with her.

“We just think the NHS should be praised to the hilt.

“People don’t always say about the good things.

“Being in hospital for that length of time can be very isolating but the care was second to none.

“Ella-Louise decided she wanted to do something.

“She’s got long hair almost down to her waist and she’s decided to have it cut.”

Her grandmother advises parents to follow their intuition if their child falls ill.

She said: “If you notice a difference in your child, don’t take no for an answer.”

Ella-Louise is off her medication and has returned to school full time and will move on to Goodwin Academy in September. She must attend regular three-month check ups for a year.

To sponsor Ella-Louise and her mum,visit Dyson Brown in Broad Street or Cherish in West Street, Deal.