Little Troopers honours brave 5-year-old Adeline for resilience and positivity

Little Troopers is proud to announce Adeline, aged 5, as our March Little Trooper of the Month.

Adeline was diagnosed with Perthes disease last year and her family were quickly faced with a series of significant medical challenges. Within a short space of time, she underwent major reconstructive hip surgery at Southampton General Hospital and began a long and difficult recovery.

For a period, Adeline was wheelchair-bound and found returning to school particularly challenging. This was made even harder as her dad, who serves in the Royal Navy, was deployed on HMS Lancaster and unable to be at home to support her through her recovery.

Despite these challenges, Adeline has shown remarkable strength and resilience. She has approached everything with a smile on her face and in the words of her family, has “never ever complained” about her limited mobility. Her positive attitude has been a source of inspiration to those around her.

As a military child, Adeline has grown up with the realities of service life, with her dad serving at sea for much of her life. Alongside her ongoing recovery, the family is now preparing for a significant move to Rosyth for her dad’s next posting. While this brings another big change, Adeline is embracing the move with excitement, especially the promise of a bigger garden!

Encouragingly, Adeline is now beginning to regain her independence. She is using her crutches less and has recently been able to rejoin her friends at breaktime and lunchtime, having previously spent those times in quieter activities during her recovery.

Adeline is also a proud member of her school’s military club, “Super Service Kids,” where she enjoys connecting with other children from Armed Forces families.

Adeline’s dad Jack said:

“Adeline has been through so much this past year, but she has taken everything in her stride. Even during the most difficult times, she has kept smiling and shown such bravery.

We are incredibly proud of her, and she truly deserves this recognition.”

Living with Perthes disease and recovering from major surgery brings daily challenges, but Adeline’s courage, positivity and determination continue to shine through.

As our latest Little Trooper of the Month, Adeline will receive a Little Troopers medal, a £100 Hobbycraft gift voucher and her certificate.

Louise Fetigan MBE, founder of Little Troopers, said:

“Adeline is a truly inspiring young girl. To face such major surgery and recovery at such a young age, while also navigating the challenges of military life, is remarkable.

Her positivity and resilience shine through, and she should be incredibly proud of everything she has achieved. Well done Adeline.”