THE little girl who almost died in a shocking accident on a York pelican crossing has thrilled her family by finally coming home.Rachel Pickard suffered terrible internal injuries when she - and four other youngsters, including her brother and sister - were struck by a car on the Hull Road crossing more than two months ago.

Rachel, aged nine, underwent two major operations, first to remove her spleen and later much of her pancreas.

Doctors allowed her to return home just in time for the New Year, after more than eight weeks in Leeds General Infirmary, giving Rachel and her family the chance to celebrate together.

But Rachel, of Kirkdale Road, Osbaldwick, still faces long-term health problems, not least that she must take penicillin every morning and evening for the rest of her life because she has lost her ability to fight infection. Even a cold could pose extra health risks.

Her mother Shirley, speaking publicly for the first time since the accident, today thanked all the people, many of them complete strangers, who prayed for Rachel and sent cards and presents to show their support after the accident.

She also praised the "superb" medical staff at both York District Hospital and the LGI. "I just can't thank everyone enough," she told the Evening Press.

Mrs Pickard, who stayed by her daughter's side throughout her stay in hospital, spoke of the traumatic weeks since the accident. "It's every mother's worst nightmare. I wouldn't wish it on anyone," she said.

And she spoke of the dreadful day in October when all her children, Rachel, Barry, 13 and Jenny, 16, along with their friends Laura Toothill and Gemma Smith, were struck by a car which had been shunted forward by a Royal Mail van. The other four children suffered less serious injuries and Jenny managed to get up and ring her mother from a phone box, screaming down the line that Rachel had been badly hurt.

Mrs Pickard and her husband Martyn dashed to the scene, arriving before the ambulance, and found Rachel lying on the ground, with blood pouring from a head wound. "I just went on the floor with her to keep her lying down. She was saying: "I can't breathe! I can't breathe!" Her lungs had collapsed. The ambulance came quite quickly but it felt like a lifetime."

A scan quickly showed Rachel had not suffered brain damage, but her internal injuries were much more severe, and her spleen was removed at York before she was transferred to Leeds. The youngster was kept off food for several weeks in the hope that her damaged pancreas would recover, but her condition deteriorated and she had to undergo another major operation to remove much of the organ.

Mrs Pickard says the family is now taking each day at a time, aware that fresh medical problems could arise at any stage, although Rachel may be well enough to go back to Osbaldwick County Primary School next month.The horse-mad youngster is also desperate to start riding her pony Bomber again."She loves her pony. It's her life," said her mum.

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