A teenager who was initially thought to have growing pains by her GP was later found to have a progressive illness which stops her walking, talking and even breathing properly. Abria Lewis, 15, was diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), a rare degenerative auto-immune disorder, at the age of 10.
It meant the talented school athlete and swimmer had to give up most of her passions almost overnight and is now dependent on her heartbroken family. After living with the condition for five years, and finding a monthly routine of plasma exchange and medication which kept her "borderline stable", she relapsed. Her CIDP has now progressed from stage two to stage three which means chemotherapy is the only treatment option left.
Her mother Esther Lewis said: "Abria is an amazing human. She is more than resilient - she has picked herself up over and over again. Her brightness and love shines through that beautiful smile. She maintains her politeness through the pain. She cries quietly and behind closed doors. She never demands, makes a fuss. She never asks 'why me?' She is kind and will always go out of her way to help others."
