Meet the brave mum who’s brought her sick daughter back from the dead 20 TIMES… after violent seizures left her girl unable to breathe
Paige Slocombe suffers from Dravet Syndrome, which causes violent seizures – which she can suffer constantly throughout the day – that stop her breathing.
A DEVOTED mother has had to bring her seriously ill daughter back from the dead more than 20 times.
Samantha Slocombe’s daughter, Paige, suffers from a rare form of childhood epilepsy which causes violent seizures – which she can suffer constantly throughout the day – that stop her breathing.
The 25-year-old mother, together with her husband Michael Slocombe, 32, feared for their daughters future after having to resuscitate her numerous times.
The tot suffers from Dravet Syndrome, an ultra-rare form of childhood epilepsy, making her prone to severe seizures but resistant to drugs that could typically control them.
After her more severe episodes, Paige can take days to recover, sometimes having to learn to walk, sit up and eat all over again.
"We were shocked and devastated when we received Paige's diagnosis," Samantha, a full-time carer to Paige, said.
"I feared for her future, and it's been incredibly tough watching Dravet Syndrome take away our little girl, bit by bit.
"We know it's a life-limiting condition, and that one in five children don't make it to adulthood but Paige is amazing. She's what keeps us so strong."
Samantha, of Whiddon Down in Devon, had a completely healthy pregnancy and birth.
But in December 2013, Paige – then seven months old - suffered a seizure whilst in the bath.
Samantha said: "I had no idea what was going on.
"I'd never seen a seizure before. I thought she was dying."
Paramedics were called and Paige was rushed to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
It was there that doctors told her frantic parents that the episode had likely been a febrile convulsion – a type of fit which affects roughly 1 in 20 children and, in most cases, isn't serious.
But later that night, she had a second seizure – this time lasting more than an hour, which completely cut off her breathing.
As she was so tiny, medics struggled to get tubes into her veins, meaning they had to drill holes in her shins to administer drugs to her bone marrow.
"It was horrendous to watch. I was so panicked I was physically sick," said Samantha.
"I didn't think she'd be coming home for Christmas. I kept picturing having to ring everyone and tell them she'd gone.
"It felt like my heart was being ripped out."
Miraculously, Paige slowly began to rally and after five days, she was allowed home.
For eight weeks, life ticked along normally and she appeared to be a healthy little girl again.
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Then, early one morning in February 2014, Samantha woke by chance to discover Paige was "making funny noises" in her cot.
She recalled: "The noises weren't even that loud, so I'm not sure why I woke up. Maybe it was mother's instinct.
"I went over to check on her and she was limp and lifeless with blue lips and a grey face."
Immediately, a terrified Samantha alerted Michael and together, the pair fought to resuscitate their girl.
Eventually, they managed to revive her and were rushed back to hospital.
There, Paige underwent a string of tests to investigate her brain activity and heart function.
At first, it was concluded she had more typical epilepsy – but then, after a doctor noticed similarities between Paige and another child she was treating and ordered genetics tests, she was officially diagnosed with Dravet syndrome just after her first birthday.
Now, Samantha and Michael carry resuscitation equipment with them everywhere they go.
Earlier this year, she was placed on a ketogenic diet – a high-fat, low-carbohydrate meal plan which claims to control seizures.
"Already, we've seen a massive improvement in her," said Samantha.
"Developmentally, she's on track but she struggled with movement and balance.
"Because some of the drugs she's on are sedating, it can be like looking after a doll but since starting the diet she's a lot more alert and stable on her feet."
Temperature is a major trigger for the episodes, meaning little Paige cannot even enjoy days at the beach or swimming pool with her five-year-old sister, Evie, and something as simple as a common cold can put her in intensive care due to the increase of temperature in her body.
Samantha and Michael are expecting their third child – due in December – and have been told by doctors there is a seven per cent chance the new baby may also having Dravet Syndrome.
Samantha said: “It would be really tough if the new baby had it too, but we've got over some major hurdles in the past couple of years so I think we'd get through it.”
Paige and her family are supporting this year's 'Jeans for Genes Day' on September 23. For information, visit www.jeansforgenes.org/getinvolved.