DOCTORS caring for a 12-year-old who was left paralysed, after receiving the new cervical cancer jab, last night said they hope she will make a full recovery.

Ashleigh Cave, 12, has been bed-bound in Alder Hey children’s hospital since October after collapsing during a trip to London.

The Year 8 pupil at Maghull’s Maricourt Catholic high school fell ill with a severe headache within minutes of having her human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical cancer jab.

Doctors have “ruled out” any connection between the illness and the vaccine, which is being offered to schoolgirls aged 12 and 13, but Ashleigh’s mother Cheryl Cave, 37, believes it is the only explanation.

Last night, Dr Andrew Curran, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at Alder Hey, said: “Ashleigh has undergone detailed and complex investigations to rule out significant underlying neurological disease.

“These have included MRI scans, nerve conduction studies and a battery of blood tests all of which have returned normal results.

“She is receiving a full input from all appropriate clinical staff including a detailed rehabilitation programme to support her recovery.

“The normal results have ruled out any significant or serious reaction to the vaccination.

“We continue to be hopeful that, with the level of care Ashleigh is receiving, she will yet make a full recovery.”

Speaking last night from Ashleigh’s bedside, Ms Cave said the family were facing the prospect of spending Christmas in hospital.

She said: “She’s not coping very well. She wants to be out Christmas shopping. She’s just really cheesed off at the moment.

“She’s very bright and although she goes to school at the hospital she wants to go back to school. She wants to become a doctor one day.

“We are facing having Christmas in hospital, and I just want to make it as special as possible.”