A MOTHER is to launch a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of appendicitis after her seven-year-old daughter died from the condition.

Malaika Adam, a pupil at St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, in Basildon, was sent home from school with a stomach ache in May.

Two days later, after being told it was a stomach bug by an out-of hours doctor, she was rushed to Basildon Hospital and died from appendicitis.

Mum Donna Howe, 38, of Polsteads, Vange, says she is setting up the campaign Malaika Smile to warn other parents of the dangers.

She said: “Parents of young children need to be aware of what can happen and the symptoms.

“I’m going to get an official list of symptoms from the doctors and we are going to launch a website.

“It all happened so quickly with Malaika and I can only talk from my experience, so I will be speaking to the doctors so we can give parents the facts.”

Appendicitis is a painful swelling of the appendix and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, a fever and diarrhoea.

Donna said: “If we can do anything to help, we want to make sure that Malaika has not gone in vain.

“She didn’t feel very well and at first I thought it was just a bug or something that didn’t agree with her.”

A memorial garden has also been built at the family home to pay tribute to Malaika, who left behind 11 brothers and sisters.

Donna said: “We’d like to thank everyone who made this possible, friends and family and Phil from T Cribb and Sons for his ongoing support and John Reimann for doing the plaque.

“Malaika always used to play with her sister in the garden and it’s been good for Khaleesi to focus on something.”

A plaque in the garden reads: “We thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new.

We thought about you yesterday, and days before that too. We know the pain of losing you, will slowly heal with time. But we’ll not forget you ever, you’re always on our minds. Your memory is out keepsake, with that we’ll never part. You’re happy now in heaven, and you’re always in our hearts.”

An inquest into Malaika’s death is due to be held in November at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court.