A TEENAGE girl who defied the odds has died after spending one final Christmas with her family.

Sarah Louise Fitzpatrick - known to her family as Sarah Lou - died while asleep in the arms of parents Sandra and Michael Fitzpatrick at Glan Clwyd hospital on Tuesday, January 14.

The former Tir Morfa pupil was rushed to hospital on Saturday 11 after brother Cameron, aged eight, called the emergency services while her father battled for two hours to try a resuscitate her.

Sarah Lou, who was receiving end of life care at her home in Rhyl, died after pneumonia caused both of her lungs to collapse.

Rhyl Journal:

The family got to spend their last Christmas with 'tough cookie' Sarah-Lou. Picture: Michael Fitzpatrick

Sandra said: "The nurses were brilliant and tried for 48 hours with her but she was just tired after fighting for so long.

“Even on her death bed, even though she couldn’t breathe she was still smiling and laughing – you'd have to see it to believe it. She was such a tough cookie.

“All of her family from Liverpool and Scotland came down to see her, and her brothers Cameron and Michael, and said their goodbyes before leaving me and her dad with her.

“We cuddled together, daddy on one side and me on the other and went to sleep. At 3.22am she made a noise and took her last breath."

Sarah Lou was born premature at 36 weeks with severe brain damage following an epileptic fit that robbed her brain of oxygen for six minutes. Her parents were told she had little chance of surviving, yet she endured while living with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, scoliosis and being blind.

In September, a successful crowdfunding campaign raised £5,000 to buy Sarah Lou a specialist Acheeva bed which allowed her to spend with her family outside of her bedroom. The bed will now be donated to charity Ty Gobaith, which provided care to Sarah Lou.

Sandra added: " Every year at Christmas, Sarah Lou would end up in hospital, but this year she got to spend Christmas day and New Year's day with us - it's like she knew.

"If it wasn't for the community paediatric nurses, the hospice and everyone who donated we wouldn't have been able to do that so I want to give the bed to the hospice to help other kids like her.

"I know she's gone, but she's still an inspiration to her brothers and her father and I are so proud of her."

Sarah Lou's funeral will take place at St Asaph Crematorium on Thursday, January 23 at 11am followed by refreshments at Rhyl Rugby Club.

Mourners are asked to wear something pink and the family are accepting donations towards Ty Gobaith.