A MOTHER has paid loving tribute to her young daughter who died suddenly in Oxted.
Kate-Lynne Mitchell's family say the gap she has left in their lives "will never be filled".
The 12-year-old had scoliosis and epilepsy and was suffering with a chest infection when she had two seizures and stopped breathing on January 4.
Paramedics spent 90 minutes trying to revive her but she did not recover.
Her mother, Paula, said the family – father Glen, and brothers Ashton, 6, Jamie, 4, and Ramsay, 1 – have been devastated by the loss, but enjoyed every minute they spent with Kate-Lynne.
"We have had the most incredible 12 years with her, and the void left in our lives is immeasurable," said Paula.
"Everything we have done in the last 12 years has been with our precious daughter in mind, from houses, cars, holidays, schools, jobs – everything. Our family is devastated by our loss."
Kate-Lynne went on many family holidays, including trips to see camels in Dubai and lion cubs in South Africa, and going swimming in Majorca and Portugal.
She was born with dislocated knees and hips and a cleft palate, and later developed scoliosis and epilepsy.
"She was our angel," said Paula. "Although she could not speak, the way she reacted to things, by smiling and things, would always tell you how she was feeling."
The family moved from Scotland to Neb Lane, Oxted, in August last year.
Paula told the Mirror: "Over the last few years the pain from her scoliosis was slowly getting more noticeable, so we can only take comfort in the fact that in heaven all her pain has been taken away and she is running, dancing and playing and talking with her fellow angels.
"Our hearts will never be filled and we will miss her everyday.
"She had the most beautiful smile and was loved by everyone who met her."
Balloons and lanterns were released into the sky by about 150 of her family and friends in Ballater, Scotland on January 19.
"We wanted to try and close the gap between us by sending up these lanterns and she absolutely loved balloons too," added Paula.
Kate-Lynne's cremation was held at Surrey and Sussex Crematorium in Crawley on Monday last week.
