'I'm a carer for my mum while still at primary school'
13 hours ago Share Save Jonathan Geddes BBC Glasgow and West reporter Share Save
Corrieri Family Arianna says she just tries to help her mum however she can
Arianna Corrieri is still at primary school, but has a responsibility beyond her years. The 10-year-old helps care for her mum Louise, who for the past five years has struggled with several illnesses, including the rare disorder Addison's disease - which leave her fatigued and unwell. That means Arianna has to help her mum take medication and look after her younger brothers, while also getting herself to school. Now the Motherwell schoolgirl has been nominated for a BBC Make a Difference award, with the winners to be announced next Monday.
For Louise, the impact of her daughter's help is clear every single day. "Without Arianna, I wouldn't be able to get through my day," she says. "I know it sounds ridiculous because she is only 10 years old but she genuinely does so much. It's bonkers given her age but she is really responsible. "The understanding she has of everything to do with the illness is unbelievable." Louise told BBC Scotland News she was previously a bright and bubbly mum until several years ago, when she found herself constantly tired and having to go to hospital regularly. Doctors eventually diagnosed her with Addison's disease - a rare disorder of the adrenal glands that means they do not produce enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. That has left Louise reliant on dozens of tablets to manage the condition and generate hormones artificially, although she recently was able to move onto a infusion pump to help her. "Steroids keep me alive, it's as simple as that," she says.
Arianna Corrieri helps care for her mum Louise, who suffers from Addison's Disease
However Louise was then diagnosed with another condition, gastroparesis. This means Louise's stomach digests food slower than it should, resulting in her having a restricted diet - to the extent even drinks like coffee can only be taken a certain way. The overall result is a constant battle with chronic conditions, leaving Louise with no energy, regular sickness and sometimes low moods. "The worst time of the day is first thing in the morning," says Louise. "I need to take fake hormones to get going, but I will always feel groggy when I wake up, until they take effect. "Arianna makes sure her brothers are ready to go, checks they're eating her breakfast and gets ready for school - it's like she's the mum at that point."
Adrenal crisis
Louise's husband works night shifts, which is why Arianna has to take charge sometimes. A cheerful girl who speaks enthusiastically about her love for horse riding, Arianna says she tries to do "whatever I can" to help out her mum, from helping her with taking tablets to walking the family's dog when Louise is too unwell to go out. She also needs to be prepared for her mum's condition worsening quickly. Addison's disease sufferers can sometimes be struck by what's called an adrenal crisis - when levels of the hormone cortisol falls significantly in a person's body. If left untreated, it can be fatal. "When you've got a long term illness, even when you need to go to hospital, sometimes you don't want to" says Louise. "You can be adamant you're not that bad and don't need to go anywhere. Arianna knows when to override me and tell me I need to go to hospital."
Make A Difference awards
[SRC] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgjvy4jz59o
