Family of tragic Toni-Lee seeking help to bring her home

Toni-Lee Carter died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on Wednesday, after contracting a chest infection.

Toni-Lee had been severely disabled since she was three months old, when she was struck down by a disease which attacked her brain and left her unable to walk or talk.

Her family was originally told she would not survive past her fifth birthday, but Toni-Lee beat all the odds and was 30 when she passed away.

She leaves her mum Denise and brothers Michael, 26, and Richard, 21.

Her dad, also named Michael, passed away from leukaemia when Toni-Lee was younger.

Toni-Lee’s cousin Kirsty Quinney said: “She was born in Morecambe and lived there until four years ago, when she and her mum relocated to Blackpool.

“She had several occasions through her life when she was very poorly with illnesses like pneumonia because she had such a poor immune system.

“We were told that if she lived past 30 it would be a bonus.”

Toni-Lee’s family was given the devastating news last Monday that they would need to say their goodbyes.

Kirsty said: “The family is distraught. We always knew there was a possibility it could happen but you never think about it actually happening.

“Toni-Lee was very happy and content and always smiling. She loved Westlife and her brothers. She touched a lot of people’s lives.”

Toni-Lee’s funeral is to be held on Monday March 7 at Lancaster & Morecambe Crematorium.

Her family has requested that people wear the colour pink as this was Toni-Lee’s favourite colour.

Any donations should be made to Alex House in Lancaster, where Toni-Lee spent a lot of her time as she was growing up.

Kirsty set up a Just Giving page in the hope of helping to raise some of the £4,000 in funeral costs to bring Toni-Lee home to Morecambe.

She said: “The cost of the funeral is extortionate. All of Toni-Lee’s family either live in Morecambe or are buried there and it is Denise’s wish to bring her home for her final goodbye.

The Just Giving page can be found at https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/kirsty-quinney