A MUM-OF-TWO whose daughter nearly died after contracting a rare disease, is thanking the community for helping to raise more than £4,000 for staff at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to thank them for saving her life.

Eleven-year-old Izzy Carroll, from Windle, is one of 120 people in the world to contract an extremely rare form of encephalitis called MERS, Mild Encephalopathy with Reversible Splenial Lesions, and is the ninth in Europe to be diagnosed.

The condition, which she was first diagnosed with in November, left her unable to walk, speak or hold a pen with her left side affected.

To thank staff at Alder Hey for treating Izzy with various forms of therapy and offering support, her mum Vicky Haslam held a coffee morning in Rainford Parish Church on Saturday, January 7 resulting in more than £2,000 in donations.

The remaining funds were raised on a JustGiving page and will be donated to the Children’s hospital in the near future.

Vicky, 39 said: “More than 200 people turned out in support on Saturday which has left me so utterly proud of my community.

“They are helping me to thank the staff who saved my daughter’s life and who continue to offer her support for further recovery, I am so grateful.

“Izzy was totally overwhelmed as she is quite shy but said that she hopes this money can make other children smile, I think that says it all.

“It was amazing I just want to thank everyone”

Izzy contracted MERS due to her weakened immune system which is caused by treatment for her severe ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease which she was diagnosed with in 2015.

Treatment for ulcerative colitis includes suppressing the immune system to prevent inflammation, which left Izzy susceptible to becoming ill.

When she contracted a virus her immune system started attacking her brain, instead of the virus, causing the inflammation on her brain and her symptoms.

To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Vicky-Haslam.