Baking through the pain: Lyla’s story of strength and giving back

Lyla, 13, from Northern Ireland, was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis on Christmas Eve 2024. She says that taking part in Junior Bake Off kept her going as she navigated treatment. She’s now written her own recipe booklet with all proceeds going to Arthritis UK as she wants to ‘give back’ to the charity that has supported her.

‘The book costs £5 and all proceeds will go to Arthritis UK because I want to help fund research and make a difference to young people with arthritis.’ 

When everything changed

I’d just started secondary school in September 2024 when my right wrist started feeling sore, by November it had seized completely and I couldn’t move it which meant I couldn’t get involved in PE at school, play the clarinet or piano anymore or even write.

The GP referred me to hospital because they wanted to make sure it wasn’t a break or a fracture and they did scans and all sorts before I was officially diagnosed with JIA on Christmas Eve. I didn’t really understand at first because I’d only heard of older people having arthritis. When it kicked in that I had this condition, I wondered what it would mean for my life and my future.

Treatment and finding hope again

We were referred to Musgrave (Park) hospital in Belfast and I started on steroids then went straight to methotrexate but it made me feel really sick and unwell, which meant I was coming home ill from school a lot.

Then I started Enbrol in June last year and it has changed everything, I’ve noticed such a difference – I can stay more full days at school, can write again and can even manage 20 minutes on the clarinet. It’s great to have movement again.

The challenges of school life

It’s so much better because it was very annoying watching everyone else at school progressing and getting good results, I found it so stressful missing so much and getting behind although they were really good at sending work home and also gave me a laptop, I couldn’t have asked for more support in school.

One of the hardest things was that none of my really good friends from primary school went to the same high school so, when I was diagnosed with JIA it made me feel even more different to everyone else.

I remember one time in Geography when the teacher asked why I was using a laptop so I had to explain to the entire class that I had JIA which was awful, one person asked if they could catch it but I explained that I have a disability, I’m not contagious.

I’ve found people are supportive most of the time and I’ve now made a really good friend at school which really helps.

Staying positive through it all

I also think staying positive is important, obviously I still have flare ups and am very sore sometimes but the medicine calms everything down and I’m not as swollen as I used to be so I just keep going.

A passion for baking

I’ve always loved baking and wanted to do Junior Bake Off since I was about five when I was making my own ‘showstoppers’ in my Mum’s kitchen. I applied to go on the show last January when I was 11 and had to send an audition video of me making something.

I then had a Zoom interview where I had to bake ‘wicked cupcakes’ and a plaited loaf and then they flew me to London to audition in person at Easter.

When it came to actually doing Junior Bake Off, everyone was so lovely and supportive. The food techs were really helpful because of my arthritis. Spending four days filming was tiring considering I was on medication so getting as far as I had felt like a huge achievement and I got ‘Star Baker’ on biscuit day.

I definitely want to do more baking, maybe kids parties and primary school events.

Giving back through baking

After Junior Bake Off mum said I should do a recipe book which felt like a good idea so I got planning in my bedroom and came up with eight bakes. The book costs £5 and all proceeds will go to Arthritis UK because I want to help fund research and make a difference to young people with arthritis.

Arthritis UK have helped me a lot with advice and support, I’ve also been to online art club which is really good fun and a chance to bond with other young people who have arthritis. It’s so nice to meet people who are going through the same things you are.