"He really has made a difference to her": Leeds Rhinos legend offers support to little girl bullied for having one eye

Isabelle Lane, five, was born with glaucoma, fluid retention and a cataract.

She was unable to cope with natural sunlight when little and had to have the curtains drawn, and after after various procedures her parents made the tough decision to go with specialist advice and have one eye removed.

Isabelle is a happy and positive girl, but mum Siobhan said she was "heartbroken" when she came home and told her other children had been making fun of her.

"It’s a new thing to her for someone to have this reaction, as we have always embraced it and told her how special it was and different she is," Siobhan said.

"She has always been positive and said she can have a choice from a glittery eye when she is older if she wants."

Allie Elsayed, Isabelle's grandma and a huge Leeds Rhinos fan, posted about what happened to her on social media.

And it caught the attention of Rhinos legend Barrie McDermott, who lost an eye in an accident aged 15.

He said Isabelle was "beautiful and talented" and got in touch with Siobhan to offer support.

"He sent his best wishes for Isabelle and to stay strong and he will help her as much as he can in the future," Siobhan said.

"Isabelle was thrilled when I told her and showed him a video of Barrie in one of the interviews online.

"She noticed that she has the same special eye as Barrie, on the same side, and how Barrie is now one of her friends.

"He really has made a difference to her as she has never met anyone with another special eye before so she can see you can achieve anything you put your mind to."

Other rugby league players, including Leeds-born Harlequins and England player, Danny Care, and Hull KR's Ryan Brierley also offered messages of support.

Siobhan, who is from Doncaster but now lives in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, added: "When my mum told me the day after she put it on Twitter about the responses she has got from so many people it melted me.

"I don’t normally post things like that on any social media, just general pictures of the family, but nothing to bring attention in that way as I don’t feel it does any good for the sympathy side as Isabelle doesn’t need that.

"But the positive response and heart felt comments were amazing.

"I am going to sort it out to print them off and make a small book for her so she can see how brave everyone thinks she is."

Siobhan also credited Next Generation Dance in Mablethorpe for helping Isabelle become the confident girl she now is.