Hospital unit opens in memory of Kent's Nicole Dryburgh

A rehabilitation unit for seriously ill children has opened in memory of a Kent woman who lost her ten-year battle with cancer last month.

Nicole Dryburgh, 21, from Whitstable, raised £43,000 towards the unit at King's College Hospital.

The facility at the south-east London hospital will help children recovering from severe brain and spinal injuries.

Ms Dryburgh was diagnosed with a tumour at the age of 11 and subsequent problems left her blind and deaf.

The neurosurgery unit has been named "Nicole's Sweet" in Ms Dryburgh's memory.

Dr David McCormick, the hospital's clinical director for child health, looked after Ms Dryburgh during her illness.

He said: "The unit will now be dedicated to the memory of an extraordinary young woman, who through her great courage and her love for life despite her many difficulties, inspired so many."

During her three-year period in remission, Ms Dryburgh wrote two books, The Way I See It and Talk to the Hand, and received both the Diana Award and the inaugural Anne Frank/Miep Gies award.

Her mother, Jackie, said: "Nicole was extremely proud to know she was helping other children.

"It meant so much to her that the equipment she helped purchase was equipment she would have used."