RACHEL LIKED HER DISNEY PRINCESSES... AND SHE WAS MY WEE PRINCESS
Father of Hamilton schoolgirl is left heartbroken by loss of his daughter
The heartbroken dad of a Hamilton schoolgirl who died just days before her 13th birthday described her as his “wee princess”.
Richard Mccartney (46) spoke of his devastation at being told of the tragic news that his daughter, Rachel Steven, had passed away suddenly.
The dad-of-three, who separated from Rachel’s mum Donna several years ago, was given the horrific news that his girl had died in hospital on Friday, September 21.
Richard explained: “The police came to the door to tell me and I couldn’t take it in.”
He paid tribute to his daughter this week, by remembering the time they spent together when she was growing up in her younger years.
Richard said: “She liked her Disney princesses, and I would call her my little princess.
“She was always good at drawing and I have kept many of her drawings that she drew from nursery.
“I remember when her mum, Donna, bid for one of her paintings at a nursery auction, at St Cuthbert’s Nursery, which I still have, of a butterfly. She always had a flair for drawing.”
Richard’s eldest daughter Stacy (28) and son Lewis (21) have been left devastated by the news of Rachel’s passing.
Stacy said: “We would like to thank everyone who has shown support to ourselves and to Rachel’s mum Donna at this time.
“We can’t begin to imagine how Donna feels, and we are here to help if she needs any support.”
Dozens of floral tributes have been left at Rachel’s home and a balloon release took place on Saturday.
And the youngster’s school will be holding a special Mass dedicated to Rachel and her family at St John Ogilvie High School.
Rachel was laid to rest on Wednesday, October 3, the day after what would have been her 13th birthday.
Her funeral was held at 11am at South Lanarkshire Crematorium, Sydes Brae, High Blantyre.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “At around 7pm on Friday, September 21, police were called to a report that a 12-year-old girl had taken unwell at a flat in Hamilton.
“She was taken by ambulance to Wishaw General Hospital, where she died a short time later.
“A post-mortem will take place to establish the cause of death, which at this time police are not treating as suspicious.”
Go to www.gofundme.com/ usmyd-rachel-stevens for the fundraising page set up in Rachel’s memory.
She drew me a butterfly in nursery... and I still have it