CARING bosses at a Steeton company have stepped-in to help a young girl who was close to death.

Laila Stanhope suffered two blood clots in her brain and a heart attack, and family and friends were advised by hospital doctors to gather at her bedside to say their final farewells.

But the ten-year-old rallied and now, thanks to Acorn Stairlifts, she is back home.

The firm – based at the Millennium Business Park – donated a stairlift and sourced a free electric wheelchair, from Janshop Mobility.

The stairlift means that Laila, who has been left with mobility problems and faced having to sleep in the lounge, can now access her own bedroom again.

Her mum, Charley, said the donation had transformed the whole family's home life.

"We had been put on a waiting list for a free stairlift as we just didn't have the funds to buy one but it wouldn't have become available until 2019," she added.

"We knew Laila would be in and out of hospital with no means of movement and the future looked bleak for us all, and then Acorn Stairlifts got in touch.

"I'm so grateful to the team at Acorn for the 'gift' of a stairlift and for arranging the free wheelchair – they are both making the world of difference to the whole family now Laila is home.

"Everyone has been amazing with their support during such a turbulent year."

Nick Wilson, operations director at Acorn Stairlifts, said the firm was keen to help as soon as it heard about the family's plight.

"We knew we had the expertise to be able to help," he said.

"The family has been through a horrific ordeal and were even burgled while visiting Laila in hospital.

"We just wanted to do our bit to give Laila and her family some relief at home and we know from experience that getting back upstairs and into your own bedroom is life changing for everyone.

"We hope the stairlift makes life that bit easier and that Laila's recovery goes from strength to strength."

Laila, from Basildon, was found to have blood clots in her brain after she complained of headaches and then collapsed.

She was put into a coma and kept alive through a life support machine, and suffered a heart attack the day after being admitted to hospital.

But as her family was warned to prepare for the worst, Laila began breathing by herself and moving her legs.

"We could see she was coming through – she's an absolute trouper," said Charley.

She added: "I hope our story makes others think twice about seemingly-minor illnesses – you never know what a headache might be telling you."