The Christou family’s world was turned upside down when their young daughter, Nikki Lilly, began developing large veins on the right side of her face, accompanied by bleeding gums and a swelling nose. Diagnosed with Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) at just six years old, Nikki has since used her rare illness as a platform to inspire others to live their best lives and make every moment count. Let’s delve into the remarkable life of Nikki Lilly through these ten captivating facts.
1. A Young Achiever with Impressive Awards
At the tender age of eight, Nikki filmed her first video with the sole purpose of demonstrating that true beauty lies within. In recognition of her inspiring journey and advocacy for those living with chronic illnesses, Nikki received a BAFTA Special Award last year, making her the youngest recipient ever. Additionally, she won CBBC’s Junior Bake Off and the Child of Courage Award in 2016.
2. A Father’s Dedication: Raising Awareness Through a Website
Upon learning of Nikki’s condition, her father, George Christou, scoured the internet for information on craniofacial AVMs. Finding little helpful information and plenty of frightening stories, he decided to create a website to document Nikki’s medical journey and raise awareness for others facing similar challenges.
3. The Toughest Challenge of Living with AVM
Nikki’s journey with AVM has been far from easy, having undergone more than 70 operations. However, she revealed in an interview with Ditch the Label that the most isolating and difficult challenge is experiencing sudden, unpredictable nosebleeds. Despite this, Nikki has found solace in her hobbies, which help her cope with the pain affecting the right side of her face and forehead.
4. Overcoming Online Bullying
Nikki’s facial disfigurement has made her a target for online bullies, who have left hateful comments on her social media platforms. Despite the hurtful words, Nikki has learned to understand that these comments are a reflection of her bullies’ character, not her own.
5. The Birth of Her YouTube Channel
As Nikki’s illness led to frequent hospital visits and time away from friends, she decided to create a YouTube channel to connect with the outside world. Initially, her parents were concerned about cyberbullying and disabled comments on her videos. However, they soon realized the positive impact Nikki’s channel was having on her life and her sense of purpose.
6. The Slow but Steady Growth of Her YouTube Channel
Nikki recently celebrated reaching one million subscribers on her YouTube channel, a far cry from the six months it took her to gain her first ten subscribers. In an interview with Enable, she admitted that her early videos were of poor quality, but her passion for filming kept her going.
7. Dream Interviews on Her Wishlist
Nikki has had the opportunity to interview numerous famous personalities, but her dream interviews include Meghan Markle, Barack Obama, and, if she could travel back in time, Coco Chanel. She’s eager to learn about their personal journeys, challenges, and successes.
8. A Life-Threatening Experience
Nikki once faced a harrowing ordeal when she lost a significant amount of blood, leading doctors to place her in a sleep-induced coma for eight days to stabilize her body and control the bleeding, as she recounted to Independent.
9. A Passion for Supporting Charities
Nikki and her parents organized a charity event when she was seven to raise funds and awareness for those living with AVM. Her efforts earned her a Diana Award. Nikki also supports Changing Faces, a charity that assists the 1.3 million people in the UK with visible differences.
10. Proudest Moments and Overcoming Obstacles
Nikki’s proudest moments include receiving the WellChild Award from Prince Harry in 2013 for being Britain’s most inspirational child and earning the Diana Award. Each day, she faces her illness head-on and overcomes the obstacles in her path, proving that she is a true inspiration to us all.
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