The mother of a desperately ill baby girl who fought acute liver failure in the last few weeks of her life has paid tribute to her as a "really happy, special little girl". Alice Lyden-Thomas, who was almost two years old, died in her mother's arms in the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff at 12.03am on April 8 after spending almost two months in hospital.
Alice was born with a rare congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which saw her undergo three open heart surgeries in her life time - the first having been conducted when she was just a week old. She was admitted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff in February this year because her oxygen levels were low.
She spent time on life support in intensive care. By March, her condition had improved considerably and there were even discussions about discharging her, said her mum Emilia Thomas, 24, who lives in Ely in Cardiff. But overnight Alice was diagnosed with hepatitis - inflammation of the liver - and she entered acute liver failure.
