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... now she's helping five people to live after she died
IN her short life, nothing gave kind-hearted schoolgirl Karis Darling more pleasure than looking after others.
Karis (right)... with mum Kerri and older sister Kristi
Known by her loving family as the Little Helper, she ran errands for her housebound gran and nursed her mum Kerri when she had breast cancer.
And when a killer bug tragically took caring Karis's life at the age of 12, she went on helping others after her death.
Her grieving father John revealed how her organs have saved the lives of FIVE people - including young children like herself - and said: "She would have been so proud,"
He added: "Whether it was family or strangers, Karis had such a big heart. That's why we called her the Little Helper.
"Her dream was to go to India to help people in poverty. That was Karis. She didn't have a bad bone in her body."
The bubbly drama-loving youngster began earning her nickname at the tender age of nine. "Her gran had dementia and she would help around the house or run errands for her," said John, 44.
"And when her mum got breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy, Karis would help change her dressings after the operation.
"She also would tell her mum how beautiful she was, to help her feel better. She would even change all the beds and do all the washing up so her mum wouldn't have to."
Her dream was to go to India to help people in poverty
Then one morning in April this year, Karis complained of earache and was given antibiotics. The pain seemed to clear up but a week later she took a turn for the worse.
At Basildon Hospital, Essex, she was diagnosed with blood infection Streptococcus A, which can develop into meningitis. J
ohn said: "They pumped antibiotics into her. Karis said she had a headache, and she was bleeding from her ear."
Within 30 minutes her brain began to swell as worried John and Kerri, 44, sat by her bedside. "She deteriorated before our eyes," said John.
Tragic... Karis fights for her life
Karis was stabilised on life support and transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital, but the swelling in her head was so bad it had crushed her brain stem. John said: "The doctor took us into a room and told us what had happened.
"They turned the life support machine off to see if she could breathe on her own, but she couldn't. She was brain dead. We were numb with shock."
But despite their grief, John and Kerri were determined to honour their daughter's caring spirit and agreed to donate her organs.
"Karis was always helping others and it gave us some comfort that she would be able to save people in her death," said John. Karis's heart was donated to a teenage girl waiting for a transplant. Parts of her liver went to save a baby girl and a young boy. Her kidneys helped another girl and a man who was also given her pancreas.
All have their lives back thanks to Karis
John, who has three other children, Johnnie, seven, Kristi, 15, and Emma, 23, said: "We've been told all these transplants were a success.
"For the little boy who had Karis's liver it had been his last chance. The others have all been given their lives back, thanks to Karis."
The family have set up the Karis May Darling Foundation in their daughter's memory to provide professional drama and sports coaching for underprivileged children.
"Karis had been signed up by a drama agent and was set for auditions in London," said John. "She shone on stage and would have wanted to help other children.
"We will always be so proud of her."
For more details visit www.karismaydarlingfoundation.org.uk
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