LITTLE Karleena Watling had no idea that an itchy rash under her arms would leave her blistered and scarred in hospital.

But when the four-year-old woke up screaming in the night with a blistery rash spreading over her body, her mum, Maria Athey, knew something was seriously wrong.

Maria, 35, of Selby, said Karleena was scratching her stomach so much the skin was coming off.

She said: "I originally thought it was heat rash because it had been a really hot day. When she woke up screaming I put a face cloth on it to cool her down, but the next morning it was all blistered so I took her to the doctors.

"They sent her straight to York Hospital and by the time we got there more blisters were coming out and she was screaming because of the itching."

Karleena was diagnosed with Scalding Skin Syndrome, treated as a burns victim and given high- dependency care in a room opposite the nurses' station.

"It happened in hours and spread on to her arms, neck, shoulders, chest, legs and feet," said Maria.

"Her skin would come off and there would just be flesh; the skin on her back came off in one piece. She was given morphine for the pain and they fetched her an airbed from intensive care because she couldn't move and they wanted her body to keep moving.

"They thought they might get it before it got to her legs, but unfortunately, it spread all over."

For Maria, it brought back memories of sitting beside Karleena's dad's bedside in intensive care the year before. Steve, aged 38, died suddenly from pancreatitis.

Maria said she had been very frightened about losing Karleena

"It was very difficult and she was very brave," she said. "She was down in herself and didn't want them to do anything, but the nurses were good and they made it a game to get the medicines down her."

She urged readers to support Guardian Angels.

"A high-dependency unit would definitely improve things as there would be more privacy and comfort for families, which is important, especially when you're so upset.

"It is better when you know the equipment is there for your child and you don't have to wait for it to be found from other places around the hospital. It is a very worrying time and you don't need extra worries."

Appeal aims

OUR Evening Press Guardian Angels appeal aims to transform high-dependency pediatric care on York Hospital's children's ward.

By raising £300,000 we can improve life for the sickest children going into hospital and, where possible, ensure they can be treated in York.

Your money will fund two life-saving high-dependency rooms with new, specialised equipment.

This unit would be the first of its kind in the region that could deal with youngsters arriving as emergencies.

These children could be suffering from illnesses including meningitis, septicemia or a physical injury.

This major investment in care for children in York, North and East Yorkshire would help also keep patients' health care closer to home and family, minimising distressing transfers to intensive care units elsewhere.

Fundraising help

IF YOU are holding a charity event, such as a coffee morning or sponsored walk, we can help you publicise it in two ways.

Let us know about it and we'll put something in the Evening Press, to make sure as many people as possible support your efforts.

Phone our newsdesk on 01904 653051 or email us at newsdesk@ycp.co.uk, and click on the appeal icon on our home page, you'll be led through to a special section complete with a downloadable poster which you can customise to generate more publicity.

If you want to make a donation, send cheques or postal orders made out to Evening Press Guardian Angels appeal, to Charlotte Percival, Newsroom, Evening Press, 76/86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.

PLEASE do not send cash and PLEASE do not send donations to the hospital direct.

Updated: 10:19 Thursday, October 20, 2005