RIVER CITY actress Laura McMonagle today revealed she has been hiding a heartbreaking secret while performing on stage in Glasgow.

As she sang and danced every day as Wendy in the panto Peter Pan, her mum lay paralysed and in agony in hospital, battling a life-threatening brain bug.

And Laura was terrified she might lose her.

"It was hard, getting up on stage every day, knowing my mum was in such pain, not knowing what was going to happen," said the 20-year-old, who plays Zoe in the BBC Scotland soap.

"But in a really strange way, it was better than sitting about, worrying myself sick.

"I was doing two shows a day, six days a week at the Pavilion, and in between, I'd rush up the motorway to the Southern General to see her."

Four days before Christmas, Bridget McMonagle went to see her GP, thinking she had the flu, and suffering from pins and needles in her hands and feet.

"My mum is never ill, so we all thought it was nothing," said Laura. "She has always been really fit and healthy.

"But she knew something was wrong - and as soon as the doctor spoke to her, she was rushed into hospital."

Bridget, 49, from King's Park, was diagnosed with the debilitating and potentially-fatal Guillain Barre Syndrome, which causes the body's immune system to attack the nervous system, leading to paralysis in the organs and limbs. It affects one in 100,000 people.

The Evening Times recently told how Samba Ya Bamba drummer Martin Shields, 27, almost died after contracting the illness in Prague.

Martin was in a coma for a month after being struck down with the syndrome.

Former Celtic midfielder Morten Wieghorst was left fighting for his life after he was struck down by Guillain Barre seven years ago.

At one stage, the Dane was paralysed from the neck down and was only kept alive by an artificial ventilator and intravenous drip.

He eventually pulled through and made his comeback for Celtic in a pre-season friendly in July 2001, a year after he was diagnosed with the disease.

For Laura and her family - brother Michael, 17, and dad Michael senior - the diagnosis was a complete shock.

"We had never heard of it," said Laura. "It was terrible - my mum was completely paralysed, and in so much pain.

"We all went up on Christmas Day, but she was so ill she could hardly speak to us. She thought she was never going to be able to move again.

"At one point, she had to have her breathing checked every half-an-hour because there was a chance the paralysis could move into her chest and she would stop breathing. It was really frightening."

However, brave Bridget has fought back over the past three months.

"She's now having physiotherapy and can move her arms and upper body, which is great. She gets home at weekends," said Laura.

"And yesterday, she took her first steps, with crutches, which was just amazing."

Laura's dad Michael said: "It's been very frightening - but at last we can see light at the end of the tunnel."

As she tried to master walking with crutches, Bridget paid tribute to her daughter.

"She has been a great support - everyone has. I couldn't have got through it without them," said Bridget.

"I don't know when I will get home - I just have to concentrate on getting better, and it will be a very slow process."

Laura added: "It has been so frustrating for her, but she has been amazing. I would never have been able to get through it the way she has.

"She has such a lot of courage and spirit."

The family are looking forward to November, when Bridget is planning a "big crazy party" for her 50th birthday.

They are also planning a Christmas dinner and Hogmanay party, to make up for the festive season she missed.

Laura and co-star Jayde Johnson, who plays her sister, are taking part in Blooms and Brims, a sell-out designer fashion show tomorrow organised by Shawlands Rotary Club to raise money for Action Medical Research.

"My mum had hoped to be doing it too, but she won't be well enough," said Laura. "She'll be there, though, cheering us on.

"Every day, my mum is getting a little better - and that's great." Chilling condition attacks nerves of weakened victims

Guillain-Barre syndrome - pronounced Ghee-lan Bar-ray - causes inflammation in nerves in the arms and legs, leading to sudden weakness in the limbs.

It can be painful and cause paralysis, and in a few cases is fatal.

GBS can affect anyone - young or old, male or female. It is neither hereditary nor contagious.

It affects about one in 100,000 people. Among its most high-profile sufferers have been former Celtic midfielder Morten Wieghorst, and Samba Ya Bamba drummer Martin Shields.

Sometimes, it follows a bout of flu or a throat infection, which can trigger the immune system to attack the nerves. First symptoms are usually tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes.

In serious cases, paralysis moves to the chest and sufferers need a ventilator to breathe.

Treatment involves medical care and physiotherapy, but it can take three years to fully recover.

Most people make a full recovery but many spend months in hospital. Some have residual weakness or pain.

For more information call the GBS Helpline on 0800 374 803 or visit www.gbs.org.uk