The best friends fighting health battles together

A TODDLER stricken by a rare condition which causes her skin to burst open at even the slightest touch has formed a special friendship with an inspirational teenage girl who has endured her own health battle.

- Paul Jeeves

Two-year-old Robyn Parker-Briggs suffers from an ultra-rare form of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and is so fragile that playing with other children is deemed too much of a risk for the little girl.

Even the most gentle of knocks can cause her delicate skin to tear, so she is not able to join in the usual activities for youngsters her age.

This makes her friendship with Jessica Bootes all the more precious. 

Jessica, 14, was left nursing horrendous injuries after a cab driver ploughed into her family's car 10 years ago. The crash left her paralysed down her right-hand side, blind in one eye and brain damaged.

Due to her brain injury, Jessica has the mental age of a very young child, but can still form strong bonds with others and has done so with Robyn.

Jessica's mum Lisa, 41, and delivery driver dad Chris, 46, are close friends with Robyn's parents, and the girls have become great pals too.