Mum says 'you were the jewel' after twin girl, 10, found dead on sofa

The mum of a twin girl who died of suspected bowel complications has paid tribute to her saying: “You were the jewel in our hearts, you were loved in every way”. Devastated Debbie Morrison, 47, was among mourners who watched as Shaylisha Morrison, 10, was laid to rest in a horse-drawn carriage following her sudden death.

She said both Shaylisha and her ‘inseparable’ twin, Chardonnay, had suffered from constipation from birth, which she had diligently reported to doctors. But she claims she was just told to simply give them plenty of 'fruit, vegetables and water' to help ease this frequent health issue.

Sadly, Shaylisha was found dead on a sofa by her dad, Eddie Morrison, 45, on the evening of May 30 after suffering from sickness and diarrhoea for a few days. Her sister was admitted to hospital with similar symptoms just four days later, but thankfully, she is now responding well to treatment, Debbie confirmed.

At Shaylisha’s packed funeral on Friday at a chapel in Bury Cemetery, Greater Manchester, she shared a heartbreaking poem in dedication to her daughter. Debbie said: “There’s a place inside our hearts that only you can fill. You were the jewel in our hearts, you were loved in every way.

“Now you’re gone you’re sorely missed each and every day. We love you princess, sleep tight, fly high. Shine bright my beautiful shining star.”

Shaylisha’s cause of death has still not been confirmed, but a coroner has now opened a case to examine the reason for her tragic passing. But Debbie wished that doctors had taken her previous health concerns about her twin daughters more seriously.

She said: “They both suffered with constipation since birth. We kept telling the authorities and professionals that something wasn’t right. But all they kept telling us was this is normal for premature babies and to just keep giving them plenty of water and fruit and veg. This has been going on for 10 years.

“No one has listened to us, and it’s taken for one of my daughters to pass away and for her twin sister to end up in hospital with exactly the same thing.”

Debbie, who is in training to be a hairdresser, said Shaylisha’s passing had been felt particularly hard by Chardonnay. She said: “They were both inseparable, they were best friends and did everything together, went to Elton Primary School together and played games together.

“They were both happy, bubbly girls, always smiling and there was never a dull moment, they were just always happy.”

And she has now urged anyone with children who may have bowel issues to get them checked out as soon as possible. Debbie added: “Me and my husband put our faith in the health visitors, school nurses and the GPs as they are the professionals.

“No one ever said that they would refer them to the hospital for scans or x-rays which should have been done. Maybe this could have been dealt with years ago and this horrendous ordeal would have been prevented.”

Paying tribute to Shaylisha at her funeral, the vicar said she had been a ‘shining star’ for her parents. He had said: “Her smile brought a smile to the faces of everyone who met her.

“She had a streak of creativity which ran through her, and she loved art and was very artistic in many ways She loved horses and loved to see them on her way to school. She was a shining star for Debbie and Eddie and for her brothers and sisters.”

An inquest into Shaylisha's death was opened at Rochdale Coroner’s Court.

Police coroner’s officer Paul Lever confirmed at the brief hearing that she had been ill and was suffering from sickness on the day of her death and that her father found her dead on the sofa at home on the evening of May 30.

Debbie is now raising money towards a headstone for Shaylisha.