Singer performs for hospital that saved her life

A singer-songwriter has dedicated her latest performance to the hospital where her life was saved as a baby, raising more than £1,000 in the process.

Isabella Giorgio-Jones, 18, was treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital, after being born prematurely, leaving her digestive system incorrectly developed.

Known on stage as Izzye, Ms Giorgio-Jones has been raising money for charity since she was aged nine, having been asked by friends while swimming why she had a surgical scar on her abdomen.

The music producer, from Bilston, has now been fundraising for the hospital for half of her life, and her latest show at Hagley Golf Club was another event to say thank you to the staff who saved her.

"This time around I'm really pleased I can use my music career to support a cause so close to my heart," she said.

Ms Giorgio-Jones had never really thought about how the scar on her lower abdomen got there until her friends asked her about it.

She then asked her parents about it and was amazed to learn how the hospital saved her life.

"When my parents explained what Birmingham Children's Hospital had done for me as a baby, something clicked and I just knew I had to do something to give back and say thank you.

"I've had further operations and procedures relating to my condition since I first began my fundraising and it's just inspired me to raise even more."

At just two weeks old, the singer was given life-saving stoma surgery to allow waste to exit her body through an opening in her abdomen.

A couple of years later she was able to undergo another operation to reverse it.

Initially, her fundraising involved running stalls at local events and fairs, selling clothes and toys.

But when Ms Giorgio-Jones turned 12, she started using her talents as a singer, holding charity concerts at social clubs with other artists.

Head of public fundraising at the hospital charity Annie Eytle, said: "Having begun her fundraising so young after being inspired by her own care, it's wonderful to see Izzye using her incredible talents to carry on supporting our charity as an adult."

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