A Blairgowrie mum has paid an emotional tribute to her special 19-month-old daughter after she passed away in her arms.
Precious Amber-Jade Gourlay, who was disabled and suffered severe growth problems due to a premature birth at 25 weeks, died peacefully at home - just days after doctors told her parents her little body was failing.
Mum Kayleigh said: “She passed peacefully in mummy’s arms at home on Friday [May 6] morning.
“Our little mermaid is now free to swim in the ocean. You will always be part of our world.”
Born at Ninewells Hospital on October 25, 2020 Amber-Jade was diagnosed with ‘failure to thrive’ by doctors due to her very early arrival, meaning her rate of weight gain was significantly below that of other children.
She spent most of her life in hospital receiving round-the-clock care with no movement from the waist down, difficulty with her heart and lungs, and was visually impaired.
Amber-Jade weighed no more than 7lb and received her nutrition via IV - called total parenteral nutrition (TPN) - and a nasogastric (NG) tube feeding through her nose and into her stomach.
She was due to undergo an operation last year to replace the temporary TPN with a permanent one but due to her vulnerable condition the procedure was deemed “too dangerous”.
Doctors then said there was sadly “nothing more” they could do for her and that the priority was to make her as comfortable as possible.
Loving parents Graeme and Kayleigh Thompson brought Amber-Jade home to celebrate Christmas with her five siblings and make memories with her to “last a lifetime”.
The beloved infant stayed home from then on with doting mum Kayleigh told Amber-Jade’s condition was rapidly deteriorating just days before her passing.
She said: “They told us the week before her body was failing but I was then told on the Thursday her kidney function wasn’t good as she was dying, the first we knew she was dying, and said we had weeks left but sadly she died the next morning.”
A JustGiving page collecting donations towards funeral costs has been set up with over £825 raised towards a £1000 target.
“She is staying home until the funeral,” Kayleigh added.
“The funeral takes place on Monday (May 16) at the crematorium, which is a private service.”
Kayleigh thanked those who donated to a GoFundMe page set up by friend Chevonne McLean for equipment and expenses to make memories with Amber-Jade and make her as comfortable as possible.
She added: “She did get her chair from her GoFundMe page and we got a lovely caravan break and made some lovely memories together.
“She managed to stay home since December with family and has had a few illnesses in between but we managed to stay at home with her.”
To donate towards funeral costs go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/amber-jadegourlay?utm_term=b22zvJEga
