A 23-year-old who had to learn to talk again has been urged to 'stay strong' after learning her treatment funding would be cut.
Sophie Mallon has been in the care of The Walton Centre for more than 18 months after suffering an "acute inflammatory episode" on part of her brain in January last year.
Her illness "came out of nowhere" and saw Sophie put into a coma when part of her brain swelled so suddenly she started struggling to breathe.
Following the tragedy she appeared on the latest series of BBC's Hospital - and won the hearts of viewers as film crews caught the first words she spoke after losing her voice.
And she was even given the nickname "Ariel", after the Little Mermaid who got her voice back, by staff at the neurological centre calls.
Now her final hurdle is to regain the ability to eat and drink unaided by learning to swallow again.
However the intense rehabilitative care Sophie has been receiving at the nearby Sid Watkins Building will no longer be funded by the NHS after the Knowsley Clinical Commissioning Group decided to cut it.
ECHO readers were devastated to hear the news with many taking to social media to share messages of support to 'The Little Mermaid'.
Kathryn Walker said: "Aww, how sad. I think everyone who saw the programme loved Sophie - such a lovely girl. Hopefully she gets the funds and makes a full recovery."
Mandy Miller said: "Sophie has been through so much and to take away the funding now is just awful for her and her family.
"Sophie thoroughly deserves the funding to continue.
Dot Stanley wrote: "Sophie stay strong and positive, as you have always done, just a little blip in your difficult journey. You so deserve funding for the way you have fought this all so bravely."
Shelagh Warley Aspinall added: "Oh, Sophie, you little darling - I really hope and pray you get the funding you so deserve. You're an amazing young lady and I've watched you flourish this far.
"You're almost there and I'm confident this will happen. Keep strong Soph. Our little Toffee."
Rebecca Lacey said she had followed Sophie's story from the beginning.
She added: "To read this now is very sad news - our system is all wrong. I hope something works out for you - as they say, one door closes, another opens. Let's hope this will be the case for you."
And Jo Mc said: "I watched this [programme], she’s doing so well. It would be such a shame for the level of rehabilitation she currently gets to be withdrawn now. Hopefully they will get the funding to continue with the care she currently receives."
Now Sophie, who worked as an administrator for Redrow Homes until she fell ill , faces moving back into a hospital environment which she feels will massively hamper her progress.
Gutted Sophie told the ECHO : “Only those who have spent the past 18 months with me will truly know how it's been like a living nightmare for all of us and how hard I’ve had to fight to get to where I am today.
"Since I moved to rehab in May, I feel I have massively thrived from it. It has helped build my confidence and helped me adjust to being out of the hospital environment.
"This rehab has been like a home away from home for me - also after 17 months of not being allowed out, I was allowed to have home leave for a couple of hours every day which started in June - this was a massive step as part of my rehabilitation."
"For me to move back over to the hospital does feel a hundred steps back because I’ve come so far these past few months with the therapy I’ve been receiving and being so, so close to getting my swallow back and making a complete full recovery. It’s so frustrating."
She added: "I’ve overcome everything I was told I wouldn’t do again - being fully mobile, talking again, breathing for myself and so [being able to swallow] is the final hurdle."
The ECHO approached Knowsley CCG to question their decision not to fund a further three months of treatment for Sophie at the Sid Watkins.
A spokesman said: “The CCG has been in regular contact with The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust regarding Sophie’s circumstances.
“The CCG will be working with The Walton Centre, Sophie and her family to fully assess her needs and develop a plan that best meets them.”
