Daughter’s death inspires donation
Emily Moody was just 8-monthsold when she had her first seizure.
And she was 7-years-old when she died of an epileptic seizure in 2002, mum Wendy Ashton said.
‘‘She went to bed one night and never woke up.’’
Epilepsy is a condition of the brain characterised by recurrent seizures, of which multiple types could occur.
Emily’s first two seizures were febrile convulsions caused by fever, Ashton said.
But then they became more regular and ‘‘much more frequent’’.
By the time Emily turned seven, the little girl would experience the five different types of seizures, Ashton said.
‘‘The doctors had her hooked up for 21 hours on a brain scanner.
‘‘They couldn’t count how many seizures because there was just so much activity.’’
Emily’s life may have been short but it was a life full of miraculous accomplishments, Ashton said.
‘‘The doctors said she shouldn’t have ever been able to walk but she was riding a push bike with no training wheels.’’
And the ’’loveable and bubbly’’ girl lived a happy life, which was captured in the smiling portrait tattoo found on Ashton’s left leg.
‘‘She was here to teach me important lessons in life, and that is unconditional love,’’ she said.
‘‘Every now and then I cry because, well, you never stop loving your children.’’
And now Ashton wants to help support the Emilys of the world.
The owner of Brougham Hair & Gifts shop in New Plymouth passed on Monday’s profits to the New Zealand Epilepsy Foundation as part Purple Day- a worldwide awareness campaign.
Ashton insisted the good deed occurred because of staff member Sheree Whalen, who has epilepsy.
But the response from the community gave Ashton the same sparkle in her eye as talking about her daughter.
‘‘I’m just really rapt and I’m already planning to do it again next year.’’