When most people think about Christmas, they think about all of the good things that happen around that time of year. Getting together with family and friends, enjoying some Christmas traditions, and getting some time off work.

For some families, however, Christmas is a time of year that reminds them of something horrible that happened in their lives. That was the case for one family in Lancashire, who lost their teenage daughter after she died in her sleep just two days after Christmas.

Maisie-Jade Thornton enjoyed getting together with her large family for the holidays and the majority the time the 14-year-old was with her father, Stuart Thorton, and her stepmother. It’s a special time of year for her.

According to one family member: “They had like 13 or 14 family members over for Christmas Day, my brother and his girlfriend Mel. She really enjoyed herself, she had a really good Christmas Day. I’ve got a picture of her smiling. She was happy with all her presents, she got all sorts.”

Unfortunately, the day after Boxing Day, she was staying at her mother’s house and everything turned out very bad. According to Kelly, she had gone to sleep as normal and her mom found her in the morning when she went down.

They weren’t sure exactly what happened but they do know that their daughter had been diagnosed with epilepsy four years ago. She had quite a few seizures at the time and they feel that she may have had a seizure in her sleep.

Prior to the diagnosis, she was a relatively healthy person but she started to have some very bad seizures.

She was a very popular student in school and was loved by everyone. Kelly said: “She was just so nice and caring and she would do anything for anyone. She was always smiling, always. We called her ‘Moo’ as well, the whole family called her Maisie Moo.

“It’s just broken us as a family.

“I mean it’s brought us together even more, but it’s just broken us. We don’t know what to do with ourselves.”

Many people have been posting tributes to her after she passed away, including her father. He said that his daughter was loved and he remembers how sweet she was, saying that they would always love and miss her.

A crowdfunding page was set up for the family to help pay for the funeral expenses. According to the fundraiser: “As most of you are aware our beautiful Maisie sadly passed away through the night on the 27th December after having an epileptic seizure.

“Maisie was the sweetest most caring 14-year-old and such a big part of the families lives. We will always miss you our beautiful angel Maisie Moo.

“I am setting this fund raising up on behalf of our whole family as funerals are expensive to begin with, never mind just two days after Christmas. We want to give her the send off she deserves, so if anyone wants to help please do so.

“Forever 14.”

The fundraiser exceeded its original goal. We hope that the family is able to adjust and to deal with such a difficult situation together.