‘SHE HAS TOUCHED THE LIVES OF SO MANY’
A GOLD Coast family are mourning the loss of their eight-year-old daughter who “grew wings and flew to heaven” after her shock passing over the weekend.
Chelsea Hammel, who suffered from the rare disease Aicardi Syndrome, was discovered in her bed on Saturday morning after passing in her sleep.
Non-verbal and suffering from epilepsy and mild cerebral palsy, Chelsea’s death was a devastating knock to the family of five who expected the “happy child” to live into her teens.
The family, who live in Steiglitz, have been documenting Chelsea’s journey online since she was diagnosed with the disease at just 13 weeks old.
Chelsea’s mother Melissa Hammel said the family’s hearts were broken by the loss of “daddy's little girl”.
“She had an amazing 3240 days of love and care from so many family and friends and we provided her with her best life,” Ms Hammel said. “Aicardi Syndrome was something Chelsea had, not who she was. She will not suffer with seizures anymore.
“She has touched the lives of so many people and we loved that our community was so accepting of her.
“She always had a smile on her face and loved her family dearly. Her smile was infectious.”
The family had worked with the community to raise money for a dream home built specifically to their daughter’s complex needs. They had also gained a large following and support through their Facebook page ‘Chance for Chelsea’.
The young Beenleigh special school student was known for her love of the yellow Wiggle, swimming, swings, her dad Trent, her mum Melissa and her two young brothers.
The family are raising funds to give their daughter the “send off she deserved”.
“We want her goodbye to be about the whole community and all of her friends, she was so loved.”.