Tributes have been paid to a Midlands teenager who died suddenly after hospital surgery. Kayla Smith passed away in the early hours of March 30 following emergency surgery at Royal Stoke University Hospital.
The 15-year-old was born with hydrocephalus and schizencephaly - a rare brain condition where abnormal clefts form in the brain, causing seizures, developmental delays and paralysis. She took her first independent steps on March 25, just five days before her tragic death.
Family friend pays tribute
Family friend Lorna Sanders said: "Kayla’s brain didn’t form as it should. As a result, she had limited mobility, communication difficulties, and seizures. But she was the sweetest, sassiest and brightest girl around."
She communicated by pointing to words on an iPad. "She went so fast I couldn’t keep up with her," Lorna added. "She used to get around using a walking frame. That was taken away for a few years, but she got it back in December. Then Kayla took her first independent steps with it the week before she died."
Despite not having it for all that time, she took to it again so quickly. "It was amazing. Everything seemed like it was going really well. That was on the Wednesday. Then her condition deteriorated suddenly on the Sunday night. She had to be rushed to the Royal Stoke for emergency surgery."
She’s had multiple surgeries over her lifetime because of her complex medical needs. "She always bounced back with a smile. But this time, for whatever reason, she didn’t recover. She passed away on the Monday morning."
Family and fundraising
Kayla, from Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, leaves behind mum Claire, 41, and brother Bradley, 20. Lorna continued: "She was your typical teenager in many ways - she’d be sure to let you know if she wanted to go and watch TV in her room. But she was always smiling, always happy, brightening up any room she entered. She was such a determined young lady."
Losing her so unexpectedly was a massive shock to everyone. "It’s incredibly sad. Everyone I know is just heartbroken for Claire. She’s amazingly strong but, understandably, she is finding it extremely hard. It’s impossible to imagine. Claire has lots of people around to support her. And now she’s just trying to get day by day."
Mum Claire has called on her friends to help raise money in Kayla’s memory. Cash will support the organisations which helped Kayla throughout her life. Lorna added: "Claire is extremely grateful to everyone who supported Kayla over the years, and now she wants to give something back."
Kemball School was a place where Kayla was really loved and appreciated. "Then the Dougie Mac’s Children Services have also been a massive source of strength and support. And she’d also like to thank the NHS Dragon Square Community Unit, which offered the family respite support. So Claire wants to help these amazing places carry on helping more children like Kayla."
The support has been overwhelming. "We hit the original £500 goal within hours, so I had to raise it up quickly so we could keep accepting donations. The fundraiser is going to be running until Kayla’s big send-off. It will be a special day celebrating her life. We’ve hit £4,000 now but we’d like to raise as much money as we possibly can. It’s lovely that something good can come out of this. And it’s a testament to just how loved Kayla was by so many different people."
