She was eating sand and paper towels and licking shoes. If she has a phone in her hand or there is something next to her she will just pick it up and try to eat it

school girl who suffers from a rare eating disorder was rushed to hospital with lead poisoning after developing a craving for pens and pencils.

Jade Noakes has experienced bizarre urges to eat inedible objects – including sand, paper towels and erasers – her whole life.

The 13-year-old, who also has autism, has been hospitalised numerous times due to consuming non-food items.

It has left her mother Nicole fearing for her only child's life in case she chokes if left alone. The rare condition, called

has also left Jade with alcohol poisoning after she drank hand sanitiser.

Now Mrs Noakes is hoping to raise money to get Jade a service dog to help stop her from eating the things she shouldn't.

She said the animal will allow her only child to 'become the child she always wanted to be'.

The full time mother, 40, from New York, said: 'Jade has been fighting pica her whole life and it has led to several medical issues.

pica,

'We first noticed it when she was four-years-old. We began to realise that wanting to put things in her mouth was not normal child behaviour anymore.

'She was eating sand and paper towels and licking shoes. If she has a phone in her hand or there is something next to her she will just pick it up and try to eat it.

'It has escalated over the years to the point where it is now dangerous. She will eat anything.'

Mrs Noakes said she suffers with constant anxiety