New hope for butterfly girl with rare skin condition

(26 Apr 2007) UK BUTTERFLY GIRL
SOURCE: AP TELEVISION NEWS
RESTRICTIONS: TECHNOLOGY CLIENTS ONLY
LENGTH : 3:35

Stockport, England - 23 April, 2007
1. Wide of Melissa Hughes walking to the lift in her house
2. Various of Melissa going up in lift
3. Various signed photos from footballers on Melissa's bedroom wall
4. Close of Melissa's hands
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Melissa Hughes, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) sufferer:
"You have got to be kind really gentle, because the slightest knock or rub can either cause the skin to blister or completely come off. I suppose in a way its kind of weird to have it because I can't really do things that my friends can do, so I just kind of sit and draw or write."
6. Close of Melissa drawing
7. Close of drawing
8. Close of Jackie Denyer EB nurse
9. Close of Melissa
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Jackie Denyer, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) nurse:
" Melissa has a severe form of EB which means every time she has an open wound or a blister her skin has a tendency to heal with a contracting scar, which reduces her mobility and causes progressive disability for her. "
Ascot, England - 20 April, 2007
11. Set up of CEO of Parafricta, George Sampson walking outside
12. SOUNDBITE (English) George Sampson, CEO of Parafricta:
" We develop products that are to conquer the negative effects of friction and in this particular case what we have is a fabric called 'Parafricta fabric' which can be used to protect the skin to remove the effects of sheer and friction that could break the skin down."
13. Various of Parafricta products
Stockport, England - 23 April, 2007
14. Pan up of Melissa
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Melissa Hughes, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) sufferer:
"It's a lot softer and it kind of feels like silk. It does not rub against me. We started with it because my ears were getting quite sore. Obviously we started with this (Parafricta pillowcase) and my ears healed quite quickly. Its a lot comfier."
16. Close up of Melissa
LEAD IN:
A young schoolgirl with a rare skin disease has been helped by the development of a new type of fabric.
11-year-old Melissa Hughes, from Stockport in the north of England, suffers from a rare genetic condition called Epidermolysis Bullosa, or EB.
It means her skin is incredibly fragile, and it can blister and tear when rubbed by clothes, bedding or from human contact.
But now her nights have been made easier because of bedding made from a new material called Parafricata.
STORYLINE
Children with EB are often referred to as 'Butterfly children' as their skin is very sensitive, fragile, and easily damaged.
Now the connection between EB and the butterfly symbol is now internationally recognised.
Melissa Hughes can get up to twenty blisters every time she turns over in bed, and her parents can not hug her because friction will cause her skin to blister.
Nurse Jackie Denyer and her mum spend three hours a day changing Melissa's dressings.
Night times can be uncomfortable for EB sufferers but a new fabric is about to change that.
Parafricata has been developed, which reduces friction against the skin.
It is a strong and washable fabric that has been designed to help in wound healing and with severe skin disorders.
The fabric means there is almost zero friction between the skin of the person wearing or using it and the exterior.
Parafricta has been designed by a company with the same name in Ascot, southern England.
George Sampson, the CEO of the company, says Parafricta designs products that work against friction.
Parafricta also has military applications.
Melissa says it is much nicer to sleep on.

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