A young epileptic mum who died suddenly of a rare and unexplained phenomenon just feet away from her newborn son's cot has left her heartbroken family bereft and fearing her sister could be next. Daniella Jane, 31, was found dead in bed on January 24, 2024 by her partner Reggie, 29, near their now nine-month-old son Ronnie in his cot. Last week her mother, Kerry Cook, 51, from Essex, received the results of Daniella's post-mortem examination which found she died of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy SUDEP a term used to describe cases where there is no clear reason why a person with epilepsy has died, according to the charity Epilepsy Action.
Kerry said she had only learned about SUDEP a few months before her daughter died, despite having raised two daughters with epilepsy and visiting many hospitals over the decades. Had she known about SUDEP, which kills between 500 and 600 people in the UK a year, according to the charity SUDEP Action, Kerry said she would have been more present and supportive for Daniella who was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of nine and had up to 30 seizures a month. Read more: Tributes to 'beautiful' teenage girl 'loved by all' tragically killed in Essex crash Read more: Hidden gem Essex bakery where you can get lost in all the delicious sweet treats Kerry's younger daughter Georgia, 26, also has epilepsy and fears she could suffer the same fate as her sister.
Kerry has launched a petition on Change.org calling for people who are diagnosed with ep.