Glasgow toddler who suffered stroke on holiday has ultra-rare 'one in 10 million' disease

A Glasgow toddler who suffered a stroke while on holiday in Spain has been diagnosed with an ultra-rare "one in 10 million" blood disease.

Little Georgia McLaughlin experienced the traumatic incident during her first overseas trip to Salou with her parents, Kirsty, 37, and Andrew, 38, last June.

The 18-month-old tot was rushed into emergency services as she screamed in pain and began to have a seizure. Her quick admission to a local hospital revealed the distressing fact that she had endured a stroke when doctors carried out a brain scan.

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Following this, her worried family were blue-lighted urgently to a major hospital in Barcelona where they spent two harrowing weeks in intensive care, reports the Daily Record.

They were then flown back home in an air ambulance. Since July, Georgia has been admitted at the Glasgow Children's Hospital undergoing various treatments including two critical brain surgeries.

However, it took nearly six weeks for expert neurologists to correctly diagnose her condition as Moyamoya disease - a rare disorder affecting the blood vessels that leads to strokes.

Mum Kirsty, who is a network officer for Glasgow Council, recounted the painful experience: "Georgia had just started to walk and talk. One day she seemed irritable but she was teething.

"Her arm suddenly went limp and I knew something wasn't right. Then she let out a screech of pain I had never heard before in my life. She looked like she was having a seizure.

"We rushed her to the nearest hospital and a scan showed it was a stroke. I had never heard of a baby having a stroke."

The distraught parents spent two weeks uncertain if their daughter would survive while using Google translator to speak to Spanish doctors.

She continued: "It was terrifying not knowing if she was going to make it. She was so unwell she couldn't fly home for two weeks. We were taken by air ambulance to Glasgow's sick kids hospital."

Medics were left baffled by Georgia's condition and she was sent to see a specialist at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

After weeks of tests she was diagnosed with Moyamoya disease which causes the artery in the skull to narrow and become blocked. The cruel disease affects one in a million people, but due to how progressive it is for Georgia, her case is one in 10 million.

The toddler was scheduled for brain surgery but in a tragic twist of fate, she suffered a devastating stroke that left her blind, unable to walk or talk.

Kirsty continued: "The medics in Glasgow were baffled by what was wrong. We were sent to Great Ormond Street Hospital for a diagnosis. They had never seen someone so young suffering from a stroke.

"Georgia's scans showed both sides of her brain were being impacted by the strokes so she was scheduled for two surgeries.

"We were told there was a 50% chance she wouldn't make it through brain surgery but if we did nothing the strokes would eventually kill her. Then she had a catastrophic stroke. She lost her eyesight, she was floppy and couldn't hold her head up.

"I thought I had lost my little girl."

Despite the challenges, the courageous youngster has undergone two successful brain surgeries, with the latest operation taking place on April 9.

Her family is hopeful that her condition will become stable and that she'll relearn walking and talking skills.

She's even got a spot waiting for her at nursery.

Throughout this tough journey, the family has received support from CHAS.

Kirsty added: "She's a wee warrior and has to learn to do everything again. She is already trying to stand up and will be learning to walk again with physio.]

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"Three strokes and two brain surgeries, and she has taken it all in her stride. She's an absolute superstar.

"We went through IVF before I fell pregnant with Georgia. She is our miracle baby. She will have MRIs annually to monitor her condition but we hope she will continue to develop.

"Every Thursday the CHAS nurses come out and give us a bit of respite, it's great, she absolutely loves them.

"We have just gotten home after months of being in hospital and we can't wait to enjoy life as a family."