All the world is a stage for Georgia. Since she was just two-years-old, she’s been a dancer.
“I just loved it straight away. I started doing every style of dance I could. I have a very musical family – so it’s something that’s always been part of me,” Georgia said.
Now 18, Georgia is studying Dance at Wakefield College after taking part in a clinical trial at Sheffield Children’s which gave her the opportunity to step back into the spotlight.
Coming to Sheffield Children’s
Following a family holiday to Tenerife in 2020, Georgia felt very ill.
She said: “We all thought it was a sickness bug at first. At first, healthcare professionals said it was gastroenteritis, and it actually took another six months before we were sent to Sheffield Children’s.”
At Sheffield Children’s, Georgia was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and following further tests this was narrowed down to ulcerative colitis (UC).
Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed. The colon is the large intestine (bowel) and the rectum is the end of the bowel. Small ulcers can develop on the colon’s lining, and can bleed and produce pus.
Crucially for Georgia, one of the symptoms of UC is extreme tiredness (fatigue) and this soon had an impact on her dancing ambitions.
“Having ulcerative colitis affected my dancing, I felt really tired a lot of the time. After doing a show I’d have to spend three days in bed recovering. Before that, I would dance five times a week, and we had to bring that down to twice a week.
“It was the first time I had experienced hospital care too, so I remember it feeling quite daunting, but the Gastroenterology and Research teams have been really supportive throughout my time at Sheffield Children’s.”
The Gastroenterology team began a course of treatment for Georgia, providing her with various routine therapies – including intravenous drugs – used for treating IBD. There was some progress, but unfortunately none of the conventional therapies produced the right long lasting outcome for Georgia.
Taking part in a clinical trial
At this stage Georgia met with Dr Akshay Kapoor, IBD Lead at Sheffield Children’s, who talked her through her three possible options. There was a different type of injection that she would need to administer herself, have her bowel removed through surgery, or take part in a new clinical trial.
The surgery – known as a colectomy – would have removed Georgia’s bowel and replaced it with a stoma and colostomy bag.
Georgia instead chose to join the clinical trial, one of hundreds carried out in the Clinical Research Facility at Sheffield Children’s every year. This trial was for patients with moderate to severe UC and gave her access to a new drug treatment.
Unlike some of the existing IBD treatments, the drug Georgia took as part of the trial is administered orally as a tablet, meaning she only needs to come to appointments at Sheffield Children’s once a month, where she was followed diligently by the Research team.
Within a week though, her condition began to improve. Georgia began to feel like she could manage the demands of performing in a show again and decided to study her passion at college.
She said: “I was always determined that I keep dancing. I still get tired sometimes, but it has definitely gotten better over the last couple of years. College has been a really positive experience; I’m learning all about the theory of dance but also continuing to dance myself too!”
Georgia was on the trial for a year, which has now been extended and she can continue to receive the treatment.
“The IBD team at Sheffield Children’s have been amazing. I’ve met lots of people, and they have all been great.”
From Weston Park, but aiming for the West End
The window of the Clinical Research Facility overlooks leafy Weston Park, but Georgia has her sights set on something slightly further afield.
“I’ve always wanted to dance on the West End. I think my next steps will be about heading towards that. There are so many amazing West End shows that I would love to be a part of. The plan is to get an agent and see what happens next, maybe performing on a cruise ship, which would be great too!”
Georgia’s musical theatre journey set sail recently when she took on a role in a local production at Rotherham Civic Theatre – watched by a couple of familiar faces.
“Amy and Aimee from the Clinical Research Facility came to watch me perform in West Side Story. I was so happy they came, I didn’t expect them to at all! They travelled a long way to come, so it was really nice and shows they really do take an interest in me as a person.
“The team even came to meetings at school with me to help explain my absences. Not everybody understands the condition and they made my school aware of the side effects and how it could affect me.
“I’m really grateful for all the team I’ve met while receiving treatment at Sheffield Children’s.”
Research at Sheffield Children’s
The study Georgia is taking part in is just one of over 300 research studies active at Sheffield Children’s dedicated Clinical Research Facility (CRF) as part of our commitment to creating a healthier future for children and young people.
Dr Kapoor, said: “Here at Sheffield Children’s, we are proud to lead research that makes a real difference to our patients. Our IBD trial portfolio includes the latest, cutting-edge medication for both Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis, designed to rescue complex cases from surgery and significant illness.
“Every child who joins a study helps us discover better treatments, both for themselves and for others in the future.”
Last year, Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity made a major commitment to research at Sheffield Children’s by quadrupling its investment, committing £1 million per year for the next five years. The funding will offer more opportunities for research across Sheffield Children’s, helping to find new ways to prevent illness, improve treatments, and give every child the best possible chance of a healthier future.
If you would like to get involved, find out more at www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/research/take-part-in-research
Thank you for sharing your story Georgia, keep on dancing through life!