A family have paid tribute to an 18-year-old from Somerset whose death from a rare form of epilepsy on September 13 has left them devastated. SomersetLive reports that Alisha Louise Hooper, from Somerton, was diagnosed with the illness in 2017 that "only developed during sleeping".
Her mother Sophie Edwards, who along with Alisha's dad Paul and brother Toby, 22, are left behind following her death, said: "The four of us did everything together. Her brother had recently finished his degree, and it was great to be all back together again.
"We truly treasure all the days out, weekends away and the amazing family trips we took, enabling us to make the most precious memories. I cannot express how much we loved our time together."
Regarding her daughter's illness, Sophie added: "It was so infrequent and only ever happened maybe a handful of times in a year." She added: "Alisha would spend hours drawing, and create so many amazing pictures. The last one, which she created the evening before she died, she left outside our bedroom door for me. The words say 'hope shines eternal'. I will treasure it forever.
"Writing and drawing was her biggest passion, and our basset hound Henry would always be at her side."
An alumnus of the former Somerton Infants School and the Monteclefe Church of England VA Junior School, Alisha then attended Huish Academy and Huish sixth form, choosing A-levels in English literature, English language and sociology.
"Alisha loved her time at sixth form. The support of the teachers was so clear, it was a very nurturing and safe environment," her mother said.
"Alisha wanted to go into a caring career and had been directing her energy into work experience at Langport Primary School, which she enjoyed after she left sixth form, but was hoping to gain a place with a local nursery."
Since her death, Alisha's family have launched a fundraising campaign to raise awareness of the dangers that epilepsy can pose. According to charity Epilepsy Action, there are 600,000 people with epilepsy living in the UK, around one in every 100 people. Every day, 87 people are diagnosed.
Sophie added her daughter "was really passionate about raising awareness of the condition, along with the effects that medication can have, especially for teenage girls".
She added: "Alisha would often do presentations at sixth form assemblies and create posters to raise awareness, and get people talking about the condition. Alicia really wanted everyone to feel that they could talk about it.
“As a family we are absolutely devastated, yet we do find comfort in raising awareness for epilepsy, as Alisha would have wanted.
“We are so incredibly grateful for any donation that can be made, and the conversation that will hopefully follow. I will forever miss my bean."
The family are raising money for the Epilepsy Society. To donate to the family's fundraiser, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sophie-edwards63.
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