Yesterday I was at Surrey Coroner’s Court for the first day of Mia’s inquest. Mia was 16 when she died, last September, at the Children’s Trust in Tadworth. I will report the evidence we heard in court once the inquest concludes this afternoon, but for now am sharing the pen portrait that her sister, Paige, shared with the court.

We are learning to live with the unimaginable. Mia Louise Gauci Lamport as known to you, but more famously known as meme, chicken legs and princess to us. She is the heart of our family and we miss her more with everyday that goes by. 

To sum Mia up is impossible because she was the most unique, strong and beautiful soul from the inside and out. 

Mia had big hazel eyes that lit up the room, with a cute button nose, chubby checks and a pouty bottom lip that couldn’t be missed. Thick mousy brown hair with all the different types of bows and accessories to finish the look off. 

Mia was diagnosed with Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy. Facing a whole variety of challenges over her 16 years Mia proved time and time again she was a fighter. She was not letting any diagnosis rule her life, and showed unimaginable strength and determination. Defeating the odds and proving all health professionals wrong on many occasions. 

Mia was unable to verbally communicate through words but would make her wishes and presence known through noises, sounds, body language and facial expressions. 

Mia was mischievous from a young age which only grew when she got older. One of her favourite things to do was to dance around the front room. Her love for music developed and over time her favourite music became Disney and Smooth Radio. Disney obsessed as well as anything pink, glittery, sparkly and anything unicorns. 

As she grew older and over time when the muscles wore away in her feet she then loved rolling around on the floor, looking at all the lights and shuffling along to get anywhere, believe it or not this never slowed her down. 

Exploring the world through anything sensory related, Mia loved it all and you could see through her eyes this is how she felt connected. From nibbling her fingers, to brushing the leafs with her hands, rubbing objects on her face, face planting to people and objects to get their scent. Mia found her communication through sensory.

Mia loved Christmas as this was sensory overload for her in the best way possible. From all the different coloured lights, to the different textures from the decorations and Christmas trees, to the Christmas music on continuous loop, her love of getting goosebumps when cold and loved wearing all of her fluffy pyjamas and socks which she was gifted.

Mia was so loving and affectionate towards everyone, leaving an imprint on everyone she met. She would give the warmest of hugs, the cheekiest of smiles and the sloppiest of kisses. 

So to sum this up Mia was like the rarest of flowers, extraordinarily beautiful in every way possible.