Little Aiyla Mota’s bright smile lit up the room when Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon surprised her with the amazing news she’d 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, was visiting the BGT auditions in Blackpool this week with her mum, Eulanda.
Given a tour of the TV set-up, before Alesha handed her a magic golden envelope, Aiyla tells 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 on a night away. I didn't mention anything else.
“She loves hotels, so was looking forward to it.
“I told her we were doing some filming and she said ‘I love filming’. When we got there, we put our bags away and the crew took us away for the ‘surprise’.
“They gave us a backstage tour of BGT, which Aiyla was excited about. We went through to the main stage, which is when Alesha Dixon came out.”
The singer and BGT judge had visited Aiyla in hospital in 2023 after she was diagnosed with sepsis, after getting a sore throat which, at first, seemed to be a run-of-the-mill childhood infection.
But when she suffered stomach pains and her breathing worsened, Euland took her to A&E.
Antibiotics had no effect and doctors diagnosed her with sepsis - an often life threatening reaction to infection - as well as a strep A infection, as tests revealed she had suffered 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 carry out amputations to save Aiyla’s life.
“Alesha visited Aiyla in hospital and she remembered her when she saw her at BGT,” says Eulanda
Discharged two weeks before her fourth birthday, after three months in hospital, Eulanda says: “I never left her side during the three weeks that she was in the coma.
“Once she came round though and was under observation, it became clear that her legs and fingers were not going to recover as they had hoped.
“I was told the blood flow had been cut off from her legs and arms, to save her vital organs. So the doctors took the devastating decision to amputate both of her legs and five fingers.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about her future – how this was going to affect her, physically and mentally. The most important thing was to keep her alive though.”
Three months later, she started school - remaining her “cheeky, sassy” self throughout her health battle, according to her mum.
“I remember thinking that her life was going to be ruined and I was completely wrong about that,” she says. “If anything, she’s more ‘Aiyla’ than she was before.
“My nan always says, ’It’s like she knows she got a second chance at life and she’s taking full advantage’.”
Londoner Aiyla has rehab, physiotherapy and occupational therapy and is able to use prosthetic legs.
She has also adapted to losing the sight in one eye due to the sepsis. She is thriving at school and enjoys gymnastics, horse-riding, ice-skating and bowling.
Eulanda says: “Sepsis and Strep A haven’t stolen her love for life.
“People ask how I cope but I take my lead from Aiyla, from her strength. It’s her that keeps me together really.
“I’m super proud of her and how she tackles each day like nothing has happened. I tell her every day I’m proud of her and she tells me, ‘I’m proud of you too Mummy’.
“The lovely thing about her winning a Pride of Britain award is that other people, beyond her friends and family, also recognise how strong and brave she is.”
After Alesha Dixon revealed Aiyla had won the award, she was even given the opportunity to press the red buzzer.
“That was my favourite part!”, she says.
Eulanda adds: “She has watched 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 judges’ panel and press the buzzer. Even this morning, she kept saying how nice it was.”
Now mum and daughter are looking forward to attending the star studded Pride of Britain ceremony on Monday to collect the award in person.
Eulanda says: “I cannot wait. She’s even more excited because her nan and auntie are coming too.
“We’re excited to meet all the other winners.”
Don’t miss the Pride of Britain Awards, Thursday, October 24 at 8pm on ITV1 & ITVX.
English (US) ·