Mother's plea for funding to help daughter

Laya and mum Nicola with the airsonett machine next to the youngsters bed.

Nicola Wilkinson needs the cash to operate an airsonett - a temperature-controlled airflow machine to filter the air - for 10-year-old Laya.

The youngster has suffered from severe eczema and acute asthma since she was born, which often leaves her breathless, struggling to sleep at night and with itchy and painful skin problems which meant she had to be frequently bandaged.

She needs daily applications of special cream on her skin, has to make frequent trips to hospital and is forced to miss a lot of school.

Picture by Allan McKenzie/YWNG - 20/04/18 - Press - Laya Wilkinson Fundraiser, Pontefract, England - Laya Wilkinson with mother Nicola and the air machine that needs filters.

Airsonetts are used by asthma sufferers to circulate air and keep away airborne allergies, but cost around £650 a month to run because its filters regularly need replacing.

Nicola spent three years fighting the NHS for funding which was eventually granted, but that has since been halted and the machine has not worked for months.

Nicola, 33, said: “It’s frustrating, it’s one long struggle but this is life-changing for her. With it she can breath properly and sleep better.

“In the two years of Laya having the airsonett in her bedroom, she improved so much.

“She did 18 months with out any stays in hospital and very few trips to the doctors.

“She went from 35 per cent school attendance to 98 per cent and she was so much happier.”

Laya, who attends Darrington Primary School, is so sensitive to allergies that the family’s house on The Close has been adapted to make it as comfortable as possible, including replacing carpets with laminate flooring and using anti-allergy bedding and hospital pillows.

When functioning, the airsonett machine also has to be exactly 52cm from her pillow.

To help fund Laya’s treatment, log onto www.gofundme.com/qxfjpmyk