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Rhiannon Ingle
A family has been left heartbroken after their teenage daughter died in her sleep just two days after Christmas.
Maisie-Jade Thornton was enjoying a happy Christmas with her large family in Accrington, Lancashire, days before tragedy struck.
The 14-year-old had spent time over the festive period with her dad, Stewart Thornton and step-mum Mel Stott, Lancs Live reports.
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"They had like 13 or 14 family members over for Christmas Day, my brother and his girlfriend Mel," Maisie-Jade's auntie, Kelly Hodgson, explained.
"She really enjoyed herself, she had a really good Christmas Day. I've got a picture of her smiling. She was happy with all her presents, she got all sorts."
However, just the day after Boxing Day (27 December), Maisie-Jade was staying over at her mum Rhiannon's house when everything took a turn for the worst.
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Kelly recalled: "She had just gone to sleep as normal. Her mum found her in the morning when she went down."
She believed Maisie-Jade may have experienced a seizure in her sleep, due to her living with epilepsy.
The late teen was first diagnosed with epilepsy four years ago after suffering from 'quite a few' seizures.
Kelly said she was reasonably healthy before the diagnosis, but soon started to have a number of seizures that were 'all quite bad'.
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Maisie-Jade, who attended Accrington Academy, was 'very-well loved' and 'very very popular students', Kelly says.
She added: "She was just so nice and caring and she would do anything for anyone. She was always smiling, always. We called her 'Moo' as well, the whole family called her Maisie Moo.
"It's just broken us as a family.
"I mean it's brought us together even more, but it's just broken us. We don't know what to do with ourselves."
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Following the monumental loss, tributes have since come flooding in for Maisie-Jade, including from her dad Stewart.
He described his daughter as 'loved' and remembers 'how sweet' she always was, adding: "We will always love and miss her."
Kelly, an NHS worker, has since created a GoFundMe page for donations towards Maisie-Jade's funeral.
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The fundraiser reads: "As most of you are aware our beautiful Maisie sadly passed away through the night on the 27th December after having an epileptic seizure.
"Maisie was the sweetest most caring 14-year-old and such a big part of the families lives. We will always miss you our beautiful angel Maisie Moo.
"I am setting this fund raising up on behalf of our whole family as funerals are expensive to begin with, never mind just two days after Christmas. We want to give her the send off she deserves, so if anyone wants to help please do so.
"Forever 14."
The GoFundMe me has currently raised £6,405 of the £5,000 goal with Kelly saying: "It's amazing. We're just so overwhelmed at people's generosity and support.
"We're a big family anyway, but I'm just overwhelmed by how much it's been shared."
Although no date has yet been set for the teenager's funeral, those attending will be wearing purple in a nod to Maisie-Jade's favourite colour.
You can donate to the GoFundMe page here.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.