A WORCESTERSHIRE teenager who has spent more than a year in hospital with a debilitating illness has pledged to support other young people with similar conditions.

Antonia Payne-Cheney, who has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) with gastrointestinal failure and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), was admitted to the London Royal Hospital (LRH) aged 15 in November 2013 and is still bed-bound more than year later.

During her stay Antonia, from Eckington, near Evesham, and her family have been supported by Caudwell Children, a national charity providing practical and emotional support to disabled young people and their families.

Now Antonia, aged 17, has pledged to become an ambassador for the charity in thanks for the support they have given her.

The teenager, who in October made a 30-minute video explaining what EDS is, said the role would involve helping schoolchildren understand the conditions and providing training to the charity’s volunteers.

“Before I became ill I used to be very active and physically fit, enjoying horse riding, competitive cheerleading and ballet,” she said. “But now that I’m confined to hospital I’ve focused my time on crafts and playing games on my laptop.

“However, I’m extremely proud to have created a You Tube channel and accompanying blog during my time here.”

EDS is a condition weakening the body’s connective tissue while POTS results in blood vessels failing to adjust properly when the person stands up, causing increased heart rate and reduced blood flow to the brain.

The condition is often misdiagnosed and Antonia was admitted to children’s hospitals in Gloucester and Bristol six times in the year prior to her admission to LRH.

Mum Victoria said the support of Caudwell Children had been “invaluable” to both her and her daughter.

“When your child is diagnosed so suddenly with such a life changing condition you simply don’t know who to turn to for help,” she said.

“Initially my main concern was the wellbeing and care of Antonia.

“However, as time has progressed I’ve had to consider other things outside her hospital environment.

“This is where Caudwell Children has been invaluable.”

She particularly praised the charity’s family services coordinator Jaime Smith, who had put her in touch with the ACT Foundation, which provides grants to pay for modifications to homes to accommodate the needs of disabled people.

“Not only that she’s visited and talked to Antonia at length, enabling me to take a break every now and then,” she said.

“As I’ve been living in accommodation on site this has afforded me much needed respite.”

One of Antonia’s first tasks will be to play a key role in the formation of a Child Ambassadors Network for the charity in the Greater London area.