Jorja’s brave battle to the end
Jorja Oats will be remembered for the big, bright smile she gave to those around her.
The Timaru 10-year-old died at Christchurch Hospital on Sunday morning following a suspected case of gastroenteritis.
She woke from an induced coma on Friday and had been fighting for her life in the hospital’s intensive care unit since March 3.
Jorja was diagnosed with Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome when she was two months old. The rare condition, which affects 1 in 60,000 newborns throughout the world, is a developmental disorder which affects many parts of the body.
Her mother Kaz Howard said her daughter died in her parents’ arms at 5.45am on Sunday.
‘‘She fought in true Jorja style right until the end,’’ Howard said. ‘‘Fighting was part of her personality. She fought her whole life.’’
Howard said when her daughter woke on Friday she was ‘‘very good and quite positive’’.
‘‘She smiled and laughed at her dad [Malcolm Oats] and at the doctors.’’
However, Jorja wouldn’t go to sleep and became very tired, her mother said.
‘‘Early on Sunday morning it was becoming harder and harder for her to breathe until she couldn’t breathe anymore.’’
Howard said she and her husband, and son Oakley Howard, 14, will remember Jorja for her ‘‘massive smile’’.
‘‘She was always happy and just loved everybody.
‘‘She had an infectious laugh and the biggest, brightest smile. Everyone says they will remember that about her.’’
Howard took her daughter to Timaru Hospital a day after falling sick. She took her back home on leave before Jorja became very sick and was in Timaru’s intensive care unit for several days.
She was then transported by helicopter to Christchurch where she remained.
The illness has been caused by a suspected case of gastroenteritis and Jorja became unwell and dehydrated, Howard said.
Since being admitted to Christchurch Hospital, the Oats family had been overwhelmed by the support of the community, Howard said.
‘‘We really want to thank everybody for everything – the messages, the words, everyone has been so fantastic,’’ she said.
‘‘Friends, family, doctors and even random people who don’t even know Jorja have given support.’’
She said it was touching for the family to know that ‘‘Jorja had made a wee difference in this world’’.