A Rangers-daft schoolgirl who is fighting a rare disease was amazed when her heroes visited her in hospital.
10-year-old Freya Tootle was left when speechless when new manager Michael Beale and Gers stars John Lundstram, Antonio Čolak and Alfredo Morelos surprised her at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children on Wednesday, December 14.
The 10-year-old has been in the hospital for seven weeks after she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome - a rare and serious condition that affects the nerves, the Daily Record reports.
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Freya first started experiencing pain in the backs of her legs in November but her mum Donna and dad Chris Tootle assumed this was growing pains. But when her pain worsened, spreading to her neck, Freya's parents took her to University Hospital Hairmyres.
Mum Donna said: "At first the doctors thought it was a viral infection and told us just to keep giving paracetamol and ibuprofen.
"But Freya kept deteriorating over the next few days so my husband and I took her to A&E."
Following three further visits to A&E, Freya was admitted to University Hospital Wishaw before being referred to the neurology department in Glasgow and finally receiving a diagnosis.
Donna said: "We had never heard of the syndrome before and were just in complete shock. As parents, we were going through days of torture watching her thrash around her bed in pain."
Freya's left lung collapsed while in hospital and she was put on a ventilator for four weeks. She was then put through two courses of antibiotics called IVIG and also underwent a plasmic exchange. She now faces a year of rehabilitation before she is back to her former fitness.
Donna said: "Eventually Freya started getting stronger but it did take a long time. Two weeks ago we were moved up to ward 3A where Freya has just continued to make good progress and is getting stronger everyday."
Freya's spirits were lifting after the huge challenges she faced when she received the surprise visit last week. Beale, Lundstram, Morelos and Colak all chatted to Freya before posing for pictures at her bedside. The youngster also received a goody bag from the players and a signed postcard, which is now up on her wall.
The visit was organised by Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, who shared a Tik Tok video of Freya's adorable reaction when the footballers first walked in.
Mum Donna said: "It was a complete surprise when they came through the door. Freya said she nearly fainted when she saw them.
"It was absolutely wonderful and her reaction was priceless. To have your hero walking through the door is just an amazing thing. We're all big rangers fan, so it even for Chris and I, it was an amazing boost after the torture we've been through in the last few months.
"It was a really spectacular moment and an amazing memory out of a really difficult time."
She continued: "Christmas is going to be very different this year, but as long as we're at home together as a family it will be magical. Freya is really close to her brother and sister, Kai and hasn't been with them overnight for seven weeks, so just even having that will be worth its weight in gold."
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