Teen with rare condition eyes career with animals

Gabriella Fox said she hoped her story would inspire others

A teenage girl who is missing part of her arm, hand and oesophagus is pursuing a career working with animals.

Louise Fox, who lives in Addlestone, Surrey, said her daughter Gabriella was diagnosed with a rare condition called VACTERL after she was born.

Now aged 17, Gabriella is studying to pursue a career working with animals after winning a national education award.

“Envisioning her being able to go to college... we just didn’t ever think that would be possible,” her mother said.

VACTERL is an acronym made up of the first letters of the main symptoms of the condition - vertebral defects, anorectal anomalies, cardiac defects, tracheo-oesphageal fistula/oesophageal atresia, renal abnormalities and limb abnormalities.

As a result of the condition, Gabriella was born with gaps in her digestive system and a shortened left arm, with an absent radius bone and thumb.

She has always been much smaller than her peers and now measures 4ft 6in (1.37m).

She had her first surgery at 36 hours old and vomited “violently” for at least seven days every month until the age of 12, her mother said.

Louise Fox, of Addlestone, Surrey, said her daughter Gabriella was diagnosed with VACTERL after she was born

After being home-educated from the age of 10, Gabriella has since completed several GCSEs and other qualifications.

She was also named an Against All Odds winner at the NCFE Aspiration Awards 2023, which recognises learners who have overcome difficult personal circumstances to succeed in their studies.

She is now studying for her a Level 2 Extended Certificate in animal care at Nescot College in Epsom.

Gabriella said she did not consider herself as brave, as she did not “choose” her conditions, but she wanted to encourage people to pursue their dreams.

Speaking about Gabriella’s achievements, her mother said: “We started to learn very early on that, actually, not one size does fit all."

She added: “I feel incredibly proud. Life is so different now and we could never have seen getting to this point."

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.