Footballer Benik Afobe’s wife recalls ‘worst moment of their life’ switching off daughter’s life support
THE wife of footballer Benik Afobe has spoken about “the worst moment of her life” when she decided to turn off her toddler’s life support.
Lois Smith and the Stoke City striker, 26, made the heartbreaking decision after doctors told them their daughter Amora had irreversible brain damage.
The two-year-old was rushed to Royal Stoke University Hospital in November after she began vomiting and crying in pain.
She was placed on a ventilator after her condition deteriorated and she stopped breathing.
An MRI scan showed she had permanent brain damage leading to the harrowing decision which will stay with the family forever.
Lois said doctors told her and her husband, who is currently on loan at Bristol City, that “there was nothing they could do.”
She told the : “It was the hardest decision, but we called all of our family to be with us to say goodbye.
'NOTHING THEY COULD DO'
“The machine was switched off at 10 o’clock – it was the most awful moment of my life.”
Tests on the toddler’s swollen brain were inconclusive – however her mother believes she contracted meningitis
If true, the infection would have been made worse by the kidney condition, ‘nephrotic syndrome ‘, which Amora was born with.
The rare condition meant she would have needed an organ transplant by the age of six.
Lois said that despite taking the child to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, few of the experts knew about nephrotic syndrome.
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She is working with the to raise funds and awareness for research into the condition.
The brave mum said: “It’s vital that more ¬money goes into researching this condition and I want to help in every way I can.
“That’s why I’m telling our story. If it helps one child then she hasn’t died in vain.”
