Tony Hudgell was rushed into emergency surgery this week but was delighted to wake up to a surprise visit from Harry Maguire.
The 10-year-old, who had his legs amputated after suffering horrific abuse at the hands of his biological parents, was visited by the sports star at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
In a post on Twitter, his mother Paula reflected on a “difficult 48 hours” and said Tony had suffered a broken hip and spent three and a half hours in emergency surgery.
The young man was delighted with the visit of English footballer Harry Maguire, who gave him a Manchester United poster, a case and a football.
He appeared to be in good spirits despite spending three hours in the theater with his arms bandaged, smiling as he posed alongside his football hero.
English footballer Harry, 31, is a patron of Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
Paula added that former Olympian Jessica Ennis Hill gave her a supportive hug while Tony was at the theater.
Paula wrote: ‘Tony spent 3.5 hours in emergency surgery. The amazing Mr. F and his team repaired the hip fracture with 2 titanium plates. It’s been a tough 48 hours but we had a special visitor who is @sheffchildrens boss @harrymaguire93.
Tony Hudgell was delighted by a visit from footballer Harry Maguire after he was rushed into surgery.
In a post on Twitter, his mother Paula reflected on a “difficult 48 hours” and said Tony had suffered a broken hip and spent three and a half hours in emergency surgery.
“Thanks to @J_Ennis for the hug while Tony was at the theater.”
Tony was rushed to hospital with life-changing injuries in 2014, aged 41 days, after enduring abuse from his parents Tony Smith and Jody Simpson.
The couple was convicted of child cruelty in 2018 and are both serving a 10-year prison sentence.
In 2017, Tony had both of his legs amputated due to injuries he suffered as a baby.
Now, after an operation to reconstruct his permanently dislocated hip, he has finally been able to walk unassisted, without his prosthetic legs.
His legs are now equal, making it easier to walk.
Adoptive mother Paula Hudgell, 57, said the sun: ‘It’s a complete miracle: the surgeon was absolutely incredible.
“This isn’t the end of surgeries, but he won’t need another one for a while, so he’s looking forward to playing football.”
Tony appeared in good spirits, looking cheerful for a selfie with his footballer hero.
Paula added that former Olympian Jessica Ennis Hill gave her a supportive hug while Tony was at the theater.
Tony seemed in good spirits despite spending three hours in the theater and with bandages on his arms, smiling as he posed alongside his football hero.
It comes just weeks after Paula shared a video of Tony walking unassisted.
Tony pictured with Princess Kate last December. He has become friends with royalty after his tough upbringing.
Tony had both legs amputated after his biological parents abused him as a baby.
“He can’t wait, he even kicked a ball around a bit while he was recovering, which maybe he shouldn’t have done, but it all worked out!”
Tony has previously been hailed as a hero by Prince William and his wife Kate for his extraordinary fundraising walks to help vulnerable children.
Tony’s achievements include raising more than £2 million for charities and becoming the youngest person to receive a British Empire Medal from King Charles for services to the prevention of child abuse.
He set out to raise £500 for the hospital that saved his life by walking 10km in 30 days in 2020 after being inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised more than £33 million by walking in his backyard.
In 2021, a foundation created in his name to improve the lives of children affected by physical, emotional or psychological abuse provided more than 700 Christmas gifts for young people in need, and also continued the tradition last Christmas.
The 10-year-old’s phenomenal fundraising achievements come despite an incredibly difficult start to life that saw him undergo 23 operations and eight blood transfusions.
The horrific abuse he was subjected to by his biological parents left him with serious injuries and the baby also developed sepsis because Smith and Simpson waited 10 days before taking him to the hospital.
At just 41 days old, Tony, now 10, was admitted to hospital with multiple organ failure and sepsis as a result of a broken ankle.
He was discharged from hospital after four months and placed in the care of Paula and Mark Hudgell, of Kings Hill in Kent.
But he still had regular visits with his biological parents Tony Smith, 47, and Jody Simpson, 24, who claimed his injuries were accidental.
Tony pictured speaking with William and Kate at the Together at Christmas service in December 2021.
Tony was adopted by Paula (pictured) and Mark Hudgell after suffering abuse at the hands of his biological parents.
Queen Camilla with Tony Hudgell during a private tea party in the gardens of Buckingham Palace
The CPS dropped the case against them due to lack of evidence, but Paula and Mark petitioned their MP and the police crime commissioner, leading to Smith and Simpson being jailed for 10 years in February 2018.
When Tony was admitted to the hospital he was only “seconds” from death and doctors believed he had little chance of surviving.
His biological parents claimed his injuries were the result of a “terrible accident” and were still allowed three two-hour sessions with him per week.
However, they had actually inflicted a terrible ordeal on their little boy during which they grabbed him by the ankles and broke his legs in eight places.
They left him in agony without medical treatment for 10 days, which they later said was because they were waiting for someone to come and fix his boiler.
The abuse continued during scheduled visits with Tony, where they removed her cast and broke her broken leg, leaving her without support.
Paula and Mark decided to apply to adopt the young man in March 2015, but were told they could not know the full extent of what happened until they were legally his parents.
CPS informed them that there was no evidence to charge Tony’s biological parents with abuse.
Tony Hudgell happy as he smiles for his mother, Paula Hudgell, after thigh surgery
Tony Hudgell had completed a 10km walk and raised £1.3 million at the age of five (pictured in 2022).
Their adoptive parents were unhappy about setting them free and free to attack other children, and began campaigning for the case to be reopened.
They petitioned everyone from their MP to their local mayor and it took a year for the case to return to court.
Meanwhile, Tony had to have both of his legs amputated because the infection had caused so much damage.
The couple adopted Tony in March 2016 and were finally allowed to learn the extent of his injuries.
Last year, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis sent letters to Tony at his mother’s annual Christmas service.