A Scots mum is warning other parents after her 'clingy' baby turned out to have painful juvenile arthritis.
Rosanna Weir, from Pirnmill, Isle of Arran, started walking at 10 months old but by her first birthday had reverted to crawling, often wanted to be carried, and had begun crying through the night.
Her parents, Charles and Kirstin, both 45, thought she might be going through a 'clingy' or lazy phase.
But Rosanna's refusal to walk and tearful nights only worsened and when she 15 months old she was crying and screaming whenever he feet touched the floor.
At that point her parents took her to the doctor and she was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis - the most common type of arthritis in children under the age of 16.
Often viewed as crippling and mainly associated with the elderly, the condition can be managed in children and Rosanna, now aged 10, is able to take part in the same activities as her peers including ballet, horse riding and swimming.
But her ability to live a normal life depends on weekly injections and occasionally stronger medication if she is having a bad flare up of the condition.
Mum, Kirstin, has opened up on Rosanna's 'rollercoaster ride' ahead of World Arthritis Day on October 12 to inform parents about the condition and help them spot the warning signs.
Kirstin, who is also mum to Charley, 22, Henry, eight, and Madeleine, six, told the Record: "When Rosanna went back to crawling and would cry through the night, we wondered if she was just being a clingy, lazy baby.
"I feel bad to think that she was actually in pain, but we weren't to know.
"We were in Ireland for her granddad's 60th birthday in spring 2012 when the refusing to walk got worse.
"She would be in hysterics if we tried to put her feet on the floor and her ankles appeared a bit swollen.
"That's when we knew something was wrong."
Roseanna's GP quickly referred her to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, for x-rays.
Kirstin added: "A paediatric doctor at Crosshouse diagnosed juvenile arthritis.
"They could tell from swelling in her ankles, then x-rays helped confirm it."
Rosanna was then sent to Yorkhill Children's Hospital in Glasgow for a her first series of powerful steroid injections.
"It was quite an ordeal getting the first round," Kirstin said.
"The arthritis was detected in her ankles, knees, wrists, fingers and toes.
"A baby is put under and they get the injections directly into the joints.
"While it was difficult, we were amazed to hear that with the help of medical advancements, Rosanna should be able to live a normal life."
Calmac worker dad, Charles, soon learned how to administer Rosanna's weekly injections from home so that the family didn't have o travel by ferry to the mainland for treatment.
Kirstin said: "It really is incredible that Rosanna can have this normal life but there are hard times too.
"The damp weather on Arran doesn't help anyone with the condition but warmer weather does help.
"We have a holiday home in the Murcia region of Spain and being there when we can helps ease the pain.
"But due to Covid-19 and Brexit that's been made more difficult, so over the past year it's worsened.
"But we often hear arthritis and write people off; thinking they'll be wheelchair bound and that's the end of it.
"Hopefully others can see through Rosanna that there is hope, especially for young people."
Kirstin is treasurer of the Scottish Network for Arthritis in Children (SNAC), which offers resources, help, advice and a safe space for parents and guardians of arthritic children.
For more information or to get in touch visit the official website, call 07504 609 510, email secretary@snac.uk.com, write to 25 Kekewich Avenue,Edinburgh, EH7 6TZ or follow SNAC on Facebook.
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