Mum of tragic Liverpool pupil says she was ‘a fighter’ and praises ‘amazing school’

The mother of a child who tragically died said her young daughter was “a fighter” and praised the “amazing” staff at the Liverpool primary school she loved going to.

Today the ECHO reported the news that two young children who attended Millstead Primary School for Special Educational Needs in Everton have died in recent weeks. The two girls were five and six years old.

The tragedy has shocked the town and Millstead principal Michelle Beard said the entire school community was “devastated” at the news.

MORE: Two children at the same Liverpool primary school die

MORE: All we know about Giardia after Liverpool school outbreak

Today, the mother of one of the two girls who died spoke to the ECHO on condition of anonymity. She confirmed that her six-year-old daughter died two weeks ago.

The mum, from Norris Green, wanted to speak out to praise staff at Millstead, particularly those at Willow Class who looked after her daughter, who was born with a life-limiting condition.

She said: “It’s a great school, the teachers work so hard and are so underfunded. They do more than any other school.

“The school has been a lifeline for us, they’ve given us a break. My daughter has gotten so much out of it. She’s learned a lot. I’ve spoken to some of the teachers and I know they’re really struggling right now.”

“We were so glad we found a school we could trust, it’s very hard when you have a child with a life-limiting condition.”

She said her daughter “loved going to school”, adding: “She was always happy when she was there. The teachers in Willow’s class are amazing. Now they are part of our family.”

Speaking about her baby, the mother said: “She meant the world to us. She was always happy, especially when she went to school. It was a big part of her life. We will be lost without her.

“She was always a fighter and loved by everyone, especially her teachers.”

The devastated mother said that although her daughter was born with such a serious condition that required round-the-clock care, she had not expected to die so soon.

She said she was not aware that a second child who attended Millstead Primary had died until she read the news this morning.

Millstead Primary School has been dealing with an outbreak of an infection called giardia in recent weeks, with the situation being managed by the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) as a public health concern.

Giardiasis is an infection of the digestive system caused by tiny parasites known as giardia lamblia. The infection can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, flatulence and bloating, but is generally not a serious health risk and can be easily treated with antibiotics.

At this stage, the UKHSA said the causes of death for the two children had not been confirmed, but that it was “unlikely to be due to giardia”.

A UKHSA spokesman said: “The UK Health Safety Agency is aware of the sad deaths of two children attending Millstead Primary School and our thoughts are with the family, friends and school community.

“The deaths are unlikely to be due to giardia. Giardia usually causes a self-limiting gastrointestinal illness that can easily spread in households and schools.

The six-year-old girl’s mother said she did not know if her daughter’s death could be linked to the ongoing virus outbreak. She said she would not want to speculate on that and would wait for the autopsy and inquest to confirm her daughter’s cause of death.

Speaking about the tragic deaths of the two young children who attended her school, Millstead Headteacher Michelle Beard said: “The whole Millstead School community is devastated to learn of the recent sad deaths of two of our youngest children.

“We send our deepest condolences to both families. Both children filled their classrooms with joy during their time with us and will forever remain in our hearts. We are working closely with our families, staff and students to support them as they come to terms with this terribly sad news.”

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