Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
As told to Ian Sample

‘We’d never heard of it’: a woman tells of daughter’s death from mitochondrial disease

Liz Curtis with her daugther, Lily, who died of mitochondrial disease aged eight months in April 2007
Liz Curtis with her daughter, Lily, who died of mitochondrial disease aged eight months in April 2007. Photograph: Family handout/PA

When I had my 20-week scan, Lily had a strange heartbeat. It would beat and then stop and then start beating again. The sonographer had never seen it before. I was referred by my local hospital to St George’s to see a specialist and it happened again. I went back every day for a week, and then every other day for another week, but they never saw it again.

I had another scan nearer Lily’s due date and that time there was no blood flow between the placenta and the baby. I had to have an emergency caesarean. That was at 35 weeks. She was so tiny, 3lb 8oz, but they couldn’t find anything wrong with her.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.