Emmy winner Nikki Lilly gives inspirational message of hope after 'rocky' year
Pride of Britain Winner Nikki Lilly Christou encouraged everyone to share their bad days and live in the moment
Pride of Britain Winner Nikki Lilly Christou has given Lorraine viewers an inspiring message of hope.
The 14-year-old scooped an International Children's Emmy Award in Cannes this month for her powerful vlog.
'My Life: Born to Vlog' sees Nikki giving an honest account of living with rare medical condition arteriovenous malformation (AVM) – a tangle of blood vessels - which causes her to have life-threatening nosebleeds and painful headaches .
Nikki, who launched her YouTube channel at just eight-years-old, told Christine Lampard how she always stays positive.
Speaking on Lorraine, she said: "I definitely think the message is out there more than it was when we first posted Born to Vlog.
"Everyone has bad days, every single person. I’m someone who has a following and I think it's important to use my following for good. I do have bad days and I think it's important to share so people can relate and to show that side as people can feel really alone and isolated in this world.
"When more people start showing their bad days everyone can come together and you feel a lot less alone.
"I think the worst thing you can do is bottle things up. It's okay not to be okay. It's important to share your feelings. Whatever way you can get your feelings out and speak your mind is important."
Since making the 2017 series, producer Launa Kennett has filmed a follow-up for CBBC, My Life: I Will Survive, which charted Nikki's progress during 2018 through three major operations at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The procedures, to remove as much of the AVM as possible, were difficult and dangerous because of the tangled vessels lie behind her eye, deep in her skull, near her brain.
Speaking about her tough year, Nikki said: "I am doing better. Last year was very difficult. I ended up in intensive care in June. It's been rocky.
"I'm in a much better place than I was. I think it's really important. That taught me to live in the moment and appreciate everything you have and every second of your life as you don't know what's going to happen. Don’t sweat the small stuff and enjoy your life."
Lorraine viewers took to Twitter to praise Nikki for her inspirational interview.
One fan said: "What a super young women, so empathetic, so eloquent."
"What a remarkable young lady," added another.
A third said: "What a beautiful young lady. So inspirational."
*Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV at 8.30am
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