BEAUTIFUL ANGEL…Ellie Nicholl
The Nicholl family and wider Fermanagh community has been left heart-broken following the death of little Ellie this morning (Wednesday).
The brave eight-year-old from Cradien, outside Enniskillen, a former pupil at St Patrick’s Primary School Mullanaskea, lived with a rare progressive neurological condition known as H-ABC Syndrome, which meant she was unable to walk or speak.
Ellie’s grief-stricken parents took to Facebook to pay tribute to their “beautiful angel”.
“This morning our beautiful angel Ellie got her wings after a long and difficult fight in this earthly world. We know that she is now free and bound no more by her illness and is already looking down on us.
Memories of Ellie, her beautiful smile and tremendous courage will keep us brave in the journey ahead without her. xxx”
Little Ellie Nicholl’s family . Pictured with Ellie, centre, are mum Ciara, dad Billy and big brother Arran RMG86
A month earlier the family were told that Ellie’s prognosis was terminal and posted:
“We have taken Ellie back to the South West Area Hospital…but it is with broken hearts to say goodbye. We are not sure of how long we have but it will never be long enough.
“We ask now that your prayers are for pain-free times, and that we are able to bring her home where she belongs.
“Thank you for all your support, it means a lot. Ciara, Billy & Arran x.”
At the time of her diagnosis on March 16, 2012 Ellie Nicholl was only the 22nd person in the world with the syndrome and the only one in Ireland. Since that day parents Ciara and Billy have undertaken 24 hour care for little Ellie.
In August 2015 the Nicholl family began fundraising to help raise awareness of Ellie’s condition and find a cure.
Since the fundraising campaign began a total in excess of £30,000 has been raised. In January £15,000 was donated to The Children’s Hospital in America who are undertaking research into H-ABC and the same amount transfered to the Horizon West Children’s Hospice.
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