Layla Astley, now three, was just 13 weeks old when a water infection is thought to have triggered her sepsis (inset). Her devastated parents, Hayley (right) and Matt were told to prepare for the worst. Miraculously, she pulled through but the traumatic episode caused delays to Layla's development, including her speech. Her mother taught Layla how to communicate using Makaton, a type of sign language. In turn, this encouraged her to speak verbally and she can now speak in short sentences. Mrs Astley said: 'Over the past few weeks Layla has started to string simple sentences together about nursery and likes to make up silly phrases - but they make sense and that's all that matters.'

Four-year-old boy Dylan Little from Atlanta, Georgia, has gotten 26 breast implants (right) to save his life after fears the moles covering nearly all of his body could turn into fatal cancer. Little was born with giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus (left and inset); a rare condition affecting one in every 20,000 babies. As part of the surgery, expanders are placed under the skin and filled with saline to stretch out the skin; similar to the process used in breast implants. Then, after three months, the expanders are taken out and the expanded skin is used to cover areas where the nevus has been removed.

April Heath, 24, from Cambridge, went to her doctor suspecting she had picked up flu. But she was initially told it was a combination of anxiety and an ear infection. When she continued to feel unwell, she went to her boyfriend's doctor who admitted her to hospital with severe anaemia. She was eventually diagnosed with a rare type of tumour which had ruptured and was causing internal bleeding. She had emergency surgery (right) and tests later confirmed the tumour was benign. Miss Heath, (pictured inset, recovering in hospital with boyfriend Matt Hewitt) who has represented Great Britain playing flag football, is now fighting back to fitness. She said: 'It's strange to think I'm only one of only four people in the world to have had the tumour. Fortunately I feel fine now.'

Emily Cassidy and her mother Lucy, 27, travelled to Jacksonville, Florida, in June so that the youngster could undergo a potentially life-saving course of proton beam therapy. While they were away, neighbours, college students and local businesses clubbed together to completely transform the family's dilapidated terraced house (pictured top left and right) in Stretchford, Birmingham. They tore out the kitchen, scrubbed away the grime and added an extension to give the family a clean and spacious home (bedroom and kitchen pictured bottom left and right) where Emily (pictured centre in her mother's arms with sisters Chloe, left, and Chelsea) could continue her recovery.

Leanne Owen, 40, from Blackpool, is devastated to be told her son Harry, eight (left as a baby and inset, in hospital), has bifid scrotum - a rare birth defect meaning his scrotum split in two and has two folds which look like a female's labia. Ms Owen (right, with her son), who was pregnant at the time, said the shock diagnosis of her son's 'vagina' caused her to miscarry her baby. She said: 'I lost my baby the same week that I was told that Harry had a vagina. I knew there was something internally that was wrong with Harry as well as the other defects that were picked when he was born.'

At least 20 per cent of adults are obese in every state of America, according to new figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In four states - Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia - more than 35 per cent of residents are morbidly overweight. And 21 states have a rate between 30 and 35 per cent.

Ethan Cavanagh, seven, from Liverpool, was diagnosed with eczema after years of doctors believing his raw, itchy skin was related to other allergies. His skin was so red he looked sunburnt (left) and his mother Terri, 32, said it appeared as though she had 'poured boiling water over him'. Often, strangers made cruel comments and he couldn't sleep for the pain - waking up covered in blood after scratching himself all night (bottom right). Doctors suggested chemotherapy drugs to stop his immune system attacking itself and help manage his severe eczema. Now, he takes 5.5ml of the drugs (inset) every morning, which carry side effects including stomach pain, diarrhoea, fatigue and raises the risk of hair and teeth loss, liver failure and infertility. Mrs Cavanagh said: 'In this position you try anything. I want Ethan to live a normal life.'

Linda Bright, 68, from Suffolk, had her left breast removed 3 years ago during her cancer battle. She was so horrified by the scars, she wouldn't let her husband see her. She decided to have the tattoo, which includes butterflies and a pink ribbon to symbolise her recovery, to cover the scars after reading about other people doing it. 'When I looked at myself I knew what I needed and that was to cover the scars up,' she said. 'As soon as I took my bra off it stared me in the face all the time. But now I can't tell you just how happy I feel.'

WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT: Dean Smahon, 54, and wife Kirsty, 36, of Leeds, (left) are expecting a baby after a horror disease known as sepsis took his legs, eight of his fingers, parts of his nose and almost ended his life. The former Northern Ireland police officer (right) was supported in hospital by his loving partner (inset).

Many of us like a sweet crunch in the morning.  And there's nothing better to satisfy that craving than a wholesome bowl of granola. The cereal is branded by manufacturers as a healthy dose of grains, protein and energy. But in reality, the most popular packs have the same amount of sugar and calories in one helping as a slice of cake. A 64g slice of yellow cake typically has 239 calories. The same serving of chocolate cake, with icing, has 235 calories. Angel food cake has 165 calories per 64g slice. Meanwhile, a three-quarter cup serving of granola can range from 220 calories to 360 calories - even the ones with the word 'healthy' slapped across the package.

Marjorie Stowell, 69 (left), from Cardiff, went for an X-ray after she fell over and feared she had broken her shoulder. She was told to take off her jewellery before the scan - which revealed a small oval-shaped shadow on her chest (right, circled). Afterwards, a doctor said the shadow was her necklace - but Mrs Stowell replied she wasn't wearing it in the X-ray. Tests revealed it was a tumour in her chest, and she had a three-hour operation to remove a third of her lung. Now, she claims her favourite locket (inset) saved her life. She said: 'I feel I've been incredibly lucky.'

More young, slim people are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, strokes and other problems as a result of hidden fat that lies around the organs. Here we tell the stories of people who all had a normal body mass index (BMI) - between 18 and 25 - but were diagnosed with so-called 'fat' conditions. Becks Breslin (left), 38, from Leicestershire, suffered a heart attack despite being slim, exercising regularly, never smoking and drinking only socially. John Nicholson, 63, from Hampshire, was told he had type 2 diabetes despite being slim and going to the gym three times a week. Karen Danville (centre), 55, from Hull, suffered a mini-stroke while Phil Salter (right), 58, from Manchester, discovered his 'sore throat' was due acid from his stomach splashing into his oesophagus - a condition usually associated with people who drink, smoke or are overweight. And Kerry Freedman, 42, from Manchester, was diagnosed with gallstones - normally seen in older, overweight people.

Gene Wilder, the revered actor who immortalized Willy Wonka and Dr Frankenstein, died this week after a three-year battle with Alzheimer's. It is a devastatingly common disease, and the sixth highest cause of death in the United States. However, many people do not know how one dies from it. Google searches for 'what are complications of alzheimers' rocketed up 3,950 per cent after Gene Wilder's son announced the actor's death on Monday. Searches for 'how do people die of alzheimers' went up 650 per cent. Alzheimer's sufferers typically die from complications related to the disease.

Allie Driva, from Los Angeles, was diagnosed with biliary atresia, causing her liver to fail and her stomach to swell (left). With just days to live, she was saved after her father Ryan, 30, was found to be a match and donated part of his organ. Since the transplant, both are doing well (right) and Allie is now walking and talking like a typical 18-month-old. To mark a year since the transplant, Mr Driva shared the picture of his daughter's rotten organ to encourage others to become donors. He said: 'Seeing the difference is amazing. It is incredible to think she survived so long with such a sickly organ. I shared the image of Allie's liver (inset) because I want people to become donors, so their organs don't go to waste when they die. People could be saving lives.'

When she arrived at hospital, Nagina was unable to move, let alone walk. Born with a severe condition that makes the skin thick and scaly, a lack of treatment had caused her to seize up. Her parents, struggling to even put food on the table, had not known how to deal with her condition and tragically, she found was living in a shed. The condition can be kept under control with moisturiser, but many people such as Nagina have no access to the products we consider everyday medicine cabinet staples. Others affected are victims of unrest or natural disasters, such as Syrian refugees and the Nepal Earthquake. Today, thanks to the devoted care of doctors - and a free lifetime's supply of Vaseline - Nagina is thriving. And the depressed girl who never spoke or smiled is now described as 'extremely bright', with many friends.

Rose Herft, 31, from Stevenage, had the successful treatment at the Lister Fertility Clinic in London after the agony of two ectopic pregnancies and two failed rounds of IVF. She discovered that her body was attacking embroys so she needed medication to suppress her immune system. Now she and her husband Kobby Manyo-Plange, 27, are proud parents of 'perfect' Mya-Rose (together left), who is now a happy and healthy two-year-old (right).

Caz Dickinson was a fit and healthy 42-year-old (left) when she collapsed at home in 2009. She was rushed to hospital in Coventry where doctors diagnosed a brain haemorrhage (middle). She underwent surgery and seemed to be recovering until she lost movement down her left side and was unable to speak after having a stroke. The mother-of-three spent years in a care home before finally returning home last month (right). Now her family are fundraising towards her care costs after her husband Mick was forced to give up work to care for her.

Newsreader and TV presenter Jan Leeming says she has stayed approximately the same size since the 60s, despite never once going to the gym. Although she likes walking, she doesn't like exercising and so follows the Hay diet to keep slim. This involves avoiding eating carbohydrate and protein in the same meal. She weighs 8st 2lb and, apart from pregnancy, hasn't gained weight for decades.

The Paleo diet could cut your risk of a heart attack in just eight weeks, new research claims. Within two months of living off food that a cave man could eat, participants in a new clinical study saw a dramatic improvement in their health. The findings will be presented at next week's national heart disease conference.

Rosie and Ruby Formosa from Bexleyheath, South-East London, were born joined at the abdomen and their parents were told they would not survive but now the identical twins are starting school. Conjoined twins occur every 200,000 births, however, as few as five per cent of those births actually survive being born. But after surviving the the surgery to separate them they are thriving and are now ready for school life.