Shocking picture of girl, 15, left fighting for life in hospital after smoking former legal high to ‘look cool’
THIS is the shocking moment a teen girl was left fighting for her life after smoking the deadly former legal high Spice in a bid to look 'cool' in front of her friends.
Sharon Howe – who is just 15 - was out with classmates when she was offered the synthetic cannabis-like drug by a group of older boys.
When she got back home Sharon collapsed with severe convulsions and was rushed into Lancaster Royal Infirmary - where she put in an induced coma due to her having so many seizures.
Doctors initially gave the teenager only a 30% chance of survival and her mother Cheryl was so fearful her daughter might not survive, she even began planning the youngster's funeral.
Despite initial fears for the teenager, Sharon came out of her coma after 40 hours and made a miraculous recovery. She is now back home in Morecambe, Lancs.
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The drug is said to be 1,000 times stronger than cannabis and highly addictive and has claimed a number of lives - particularly amongst the homeless communities across the UK particularly the north of England and south Wales.
Today Mrs Howe said: "At the time Sharon was gravely ill and doctors were telling me I might have to prepare for the worst.
''Preparing for your child's death is something no mother should ever have to do. These drugs can be deadly and I hope the picture of my daughter in hospital will ram home that message to other parents.''
The incident occurred when Sharon, then a pupil at Carnforth High School, went out with friends. During the evening they met a group of older boys who offered the youngster what appeared to be a marijuana joint.
She accepted, trying to look 'cool' but the spliff was laced with 'Spice' and Sharon collapsed after she returned home at the end of the evening.
Mrs Howe added: "I found Sharon lying on her bedroom floor and convulsing, foaming at the mouth with her eyes rolled back into her head.
"I was in a complete state of shock – my mum pushed past me and put Sharon in the recovery position while I called 999. We noticed at the time that her clothes smelled like plastic – it wasn't until later we learned that was the smell of Spice after it had been burnt.
"We rushed Sharon to hospital and doctors were asking me what she had taken and how long she'd had a problem.
''I was taken completely aback, I hadn't a clue she could be dabbling with drugs. Doctors said it was touch and go whether she'd pull through and bizarrely I even began planning her funeral.
''We had decided on a pale pink coffin, and a procession led by Art Garfunkel's Bright Eyes because it is a favourite of Sharon's, and it was at one time her childhood nickname.''
Cheryl said: "It was a living nightmare seeing Sharon covered in wires, with machines beeping around her. But thankfully she rallied and doctors brought out out of the coma because tests were showing she would be all right. When she woke up, we all wept tears of relief. "
Sharon was discharged from hospital after three days of treatment.
Cheryl added: "I was disappointed in Sharon but I didn't blame her – she's a teenager, and they make mistakes. She's turned her life around now and is attending college. She may have put us through some rough times, but I'm very proud of her."
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