Motherwell youngster’s mum’s pride after daughter’s cruel diagnosis

Sarah Critchfield said she suspected something was seriously wrong when Lailah began suffering from swollen and painful knees that became so bad she was doubled over in agony.

After taking the youngster to A&E, she was referred to a bone specialist and admitted to Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children, where tests confirmed Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis - an autoimmune condition where the body attacks itself, affecting the joints and reducing mobility.

Lailah needs weekly hospital visits (Image: Supplied) Sarah, 28, from Motherwell, exclusively told the Glasgow Times how Lailah, now eight, has continued to amaze medics with her courage and determination.

Lailah with her proud family (Image: Supplied)

She said: “At first, we hoped it was just growing pains as she mentioned her legs feeling sore but then she’d be running about the garden a few hours later. It wasn’t until her knees became very swollen and she couldn’t get up one day at nursery that we knew something was badly wrong.

Lailah has inspired others by entering pageants. (Image: Supplied) "After going to A&E we were told that she needed to see a specialist as her inflammation markers were sky high and she was in and out of hospital for six weeks on meds to try and get them under control.

“She began losing weight and her glands were swollen. At one stage she even ended up having to use a wheelchair because it became so agonising to walk. It wasn’t until she had an MRI scan that we were given the diagnosis. It was a massive shock but we could also start to focus on what we could do to make our wee girl better.”

Sarah and husband Kyle were told that she would need to start on Methotrexate, a powerful chemotherapy drug, along with monthly infusions of Inflixamab, to prevent her from getting worse. Medics have told the family it is likely that Lailah will need to be on the medication for the rest of her life if the condition does not start to regress before the age of 12.

Sarah, also mum to two-year-old Lily, says she’s incredibly proud of how well her brave daughter has handled her diagnosis and how she refuses to let it hold her back.

Lailah is proud of her pageant successes. (Image: Supplied) She said: “She’s just incredible and so very resilient. The chemo drugs can make her feel a bit tired and sickly, but she just takes it all in her stride and always has a massive smile for everyone.

“The medication can also have longer term complications with her heart and eyesight, but she is closely monitored by specialists. She continues to have flare-ups but the meds means that we get them quickly under control.

Lailah has bravely endured spells in hospital. (Image: Supplied)“Despite everything she copes with, she just gets on with life. She just refuses to allow her illness to hold her back. She’s so determined to do all of the things that her friends can -  we could not be more proud, she’s just our little warrior.”

Lailah is determined to help raise awareness of her condition and takes part in beauty pageants and works alongside charity jarProject to do so.

She recently won the title of Little Miss Crown UK. She is also competing in the International Junior Miss UK Jr Pre-teen on April 14 to try and win the opportunity to represent the UK at the finals in America next January. 

Student nurse Sarah added: “We are so proud that she wants to use what many could see as a negative experience to instead help others. So little is known about Lailah’s condition, and because it is rare. it can take months and months for families to get a proper diagnosis.

“Taking part in these pageants gives her the opportunity to go on stage and share her journey with others. She wants to do everything in her power to help other young children facing this and to show them that you can still live life to the full. She’s also raised lots of money by doing so for charity in the hope of funding more research to find a cure.

“She is just our little superstar.”