Funeral for 'sassy and amazing' teen

A 15-year-old girl with a rare brain condition who died suddenly last month has been described by carers as "the most amazing young lady".

Kayla from Stoke-on-Trent was unable to walk and talk due to hydrocephalus and schizencephaly and had seizures and developmental problems.

She was helped by Dougie Mac's Children's Services and Kemball School, and physiotherapist Lorna Saunders said she was "just the sassiest, most amazing young lady that my team and I had the absolute pleasure to work with".

Her funeral and "celebration of life" ceremony is being held at Carmountside Crematorium in the city on Wednesday.

Saunders, from Audlem, runs Positive Steps Physiotherapy and helped Kayla with her mobility.

She said Kayla had undergone surgery recently and experienced complications from which she did not recover.

She has started a fundraising page for the two charities with the family's blessing.

"Kayla was just the sassiest, most amazing young lady that my team and I had the absolute pleasure to work with," she said.

"She had so many challenges she had to face but she was just always full of smiles, and cheeky, and just so determined and such a clever girl."

Kayla used an iPad to help her communicate, but she understood everything and managed to take her first independent steps in a walking frame five days before she died which was a huge achievement, Saunders said.

"No matter what was thrown her way, she was smiling.

"She would shout at us and tell us exactly what she thought.. she was a typical 15- year-old in that way."

Her mother Claire has said how strong and determined her daughter was, Saunders said, and she was in touch with her, describing her as "amazingly strong".

"It's obviously beyond heartbreaking and I think we're all just feeling for Claire and she's finding this week in particular very difficult," she said.

"She's trying to keep busy but she just wants everyone to know how amazing Kayla was."

Saunders said Claire "has strength she doesn't know she has" and people were supporting her "through this week and through her special day to remember exactly how amazing Kayla was."

Overall, she said Kayla will be remembered as being the "sassiest, cheekiest, happiest, smiliest, amazing young girl".

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