'The queen of my heart died in my arms'

8:53am Saturday 28th April 2007

THE parents of a severely disabled three-year-old girl, who died in her mother's arms, have paid tribute to their daughter.

Kaylie King, who suffered from cerebral palsy, died on Wednesday after contracting pneumonia several days before.

The toddler suffered from spastic quadriplegia, regarded as the most severe form of cerebral palsy, which meant she was blind, had little control over her limbs or neck and had impaired hearing.

Speaking from the family's Darlington home, Kaylie's parents, Paul and Maria, told The Northern Echo that Kaylie was a little fighter.

"She was fighter from start to finish," said Mr King, 40.

Kaylie was born at 25 weeks and was otherwise healthy despite being born prematurely.

The youngster was left with cerebral palsy after she caught bronchitis when she was seven months old.

She went into respiratory arrest and was starved of oxygen for 23 minutes.

Kaylie touched the hearts of many Darlington residents, who helped to raise about £8,000 in February to buy a chair, which helped her to sit upright.

"She just took everything in her stride," said Mr King. "She was just no problem at all."

Mrs King, 26, said: "She is so missed and loved. She will always be in our hearts."

Kaylie died in the early hours of Wednesday after catching pneumonia when the family were visiting Mrs King's parent's in London.

She was rushed to St Thomas' Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle.

Mr King said: "She put up so much of a fight. She was only breathing once every two minutes for 20 hours. Our wish was to bring her home after the doctors couldn't do anything else for her."

Mrs King added: "She died in my arms. She was the queen of my heart."

The family, who live in Aviemore Court, have thanked Jacqui at Harewood House, a Darlington Borough Council-run service for children with special educational needs.

They have also thanked the Butterwick Hospice, which Kaylie visited twice a month.

As well as her parents, Kaylie leaves brothers Jamie, ten, and Alfie, seven months, sister Leah, seven, step-brothers Michael and Anthony, as well as grandparents Barbara and Angus Mackay and Kathleen King.

Kaylie's funeral will be held on Thursday, in St Andrew's Church, Haughton, at 11am.