BGT star Alesha Dixon’s heartfelt gesture to five-year-old amputee fan | Television and radio | Showbiz and television

Little Aiyla Mota’s beaming smile lit up the room as Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon surprised her with the wonderful news that she had won a Pride of Britain Child of Courage award.

The sassy five-year-old, who had both legs and five fingers amputated to save her life in March 2023 after developing sepsis, attended the BGT auditions in Blackpool this week with her mother, Eulanda.

Aiyla is given a tour of the TV set-up before Alesha hands her a magical golden envelope, telling The Mirror: “I was so excited!”, Aiyla Mota tells The Mirror.

Eulanda, 28, says: “When we first heard we were going to Blackpool I told her we were going away for a night. I didn’t mention anything else.

“She loves hotels, so I was looking forward to it.

“I told her we were filming and she said, ‘I love filming.’ When we got there, we put our bags away and the crew took us for the ‘surprise’.

“They gave us a backstage tour of BGT, which Aiyla was excited about. We moved on to the main stage, where Alesha Dixon came out.

The singer and BGT judge had visited Aiyla in hospital in 2023 after she was diagnosed with sepsis after developing a sore throat that initially appeared to be a common childhood infection.

But when she developed abdominal pain and her breathing worsened, Euland took her to the emergency room.

Antibiotics had no effect and doctors diagnosed her with sepsis – an often life-threatening response to infection – and a streptococcal infection, as tests showed she had multiple organ failure, including her lungs and kidneys.

After three weeks in intensive care in an induced coma, doctors told Eulanda they would have to perform amputations to save Aiyla’s life.

“Alesha visited Aiyla in hospital and she thought of her when she saw her on BGT,” says Eulanda

Eulanda was discharged two weeks before her fourth birthday, after three months in hospital, and says: ‘I never left her side during the three weeks she was in a coma.

“Once she came around and was under observation, it became clear that her legs and fingers were not going to recover as they had hoped.

“I was told that the blood flow to her legs and arms had been cut off to save her vital organs. So doctors made the devastating decision to amputate both her legs and five fingers.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about her future – how this would affect her, physically and mentally. However, the most important thing was to keep her alive.”

Three months later, she started school and, according to her mother, remained her “sassy, ​​sassy” self throughout her health struggles.

“I remember thinking her life would be ruined, and I was completely wrong about that,” she says. ‘If anything, she’s more ‘Aiyla’ than before.

“My grandmother always says, ‘It’s like she knows she’s been given a second chance at life and she’s taking full advantage of it.’”

Londoner Aiyla has rehabilitation, physiotherapy and occupational therapy and can use prosthetic legs.

She has also adapted to losing vision in one eye due to the sepsis. She does well at school and enjoys gymnastics, horse riding, ice skating and bowling.

Eulanda says: “Sepsis and Strep A did not steal her love of life.

“People ask how I deal with it, but I take the lead from Aiyla, from her strength. It’s her who really holds me together.

“I am very proud of her and the way she tackles every day as if nothing has happened. I tell her every day that I am proud of her and she says: ‘I am proud of you too mommy’.

“The great thing about winning a Pride of Britain award is that other people, as well as her friends and family, also recognize how strong and brave she is.”

After Alesha Dixon revealed that Aiyla had won the award, she even got the chance to press the red buzzer.

“That was my favorite part!” she says.

Eulanda added: “She’s been watching Britain’s Got Talent since she was little, so she knows how it all works and she couldn’t believe she got to be there.

“The best part was being able to sit on the judging panel and press the buzzer. Even this morning she kept saying how much fun it was.”

Now mother and daughter are looking forward to attending the star-studded Pride of Britain ceremony on Monday to receive the award in person.

Eulanda says: “I can’t wait. She is even more excited because her grandmother and aunt are coming too.

“We are happy to meet all the other winners.”

Don’t miss the Pride of Britain Awards, Thursday October 24 at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX