A HITHER Green mum is hoping a foundation she has set up will help research the "medical mystery" which killed her asthmatic nine-year-old daughter.
Holbeach Primary School pupil Ella Kissi-Debrah developed serious asthma at the age of six and ended up in intensive care at Lewisham Hospital five times because of the attacks' severity.
Despite this she lived an active life but, tragically, Ella died last February after suffering a particularly serious attack.
Her mum Rossy has now set up the Ella Roberta Family Foundation, partly to raise money for research after doctors at Great Ormond Street described Ella's health problems as "a medical mystery."
The 44-year-old, of Wellmeadow Road, explained: "When Ella died I was absolutely devastated and there were some thing about her condition that we still don't understand.
"Why, two months before her seventh birthday did she develop asthma? Where is did it come from?
"How did someone so fit end up in intensive care five times?"
The former Blackheath Bluecoat teacher added: "For most children who have an asthma attack they'll clam down for a while but for her it just didn't work. We never quite got to the bottom of it.
"Sometimes she's be fast asleep and an asthma attack would come on. They were never really able to control it."
The foundation, backed by Olympic cyclist Laura Trott and the director of Millwall Community Scheme Dave King, was launched last month on what would have been Ella's 10th birthday and has already raised £1,145.
Some of the money will be spent on facilities for youngsters at Lewisham Hospital and there are plans for an event with Millwall - a club where Ella used to play - on World Asthma Day in May.
Ms Kissi-Debrah said: "Her passing away came as a complete shock to everybody and I was devastated.
"We'd like to try and helps top that happening to someone else."
To get involved visit the Ella Roberta Family Foundation Facebook page.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here