A heartbroken mother has paid tribute to her “beautiful” daughter who died three years after the sudden death of her big brother. Alexander Cooper was just three when he died suddenly after being “a bit unwell” on Boxing Day 2021. On Thursday, his sister Isabelle also lost her life less than a year after discovering she had the same rare genetic disorder as her brother.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, her mother Dr Emily Cooper, a lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, wrote: “We are devastated to say that our beautiful Isabelle died in the early hours of this morning. We are absolutely broken. However, we want you all not to think of her death, but to honour her by living life as she did: fearlessly, joyously & spontaneously.”
Alexander’s death was “unexplained” for almost two years after there had been few signs anything was wrong. The three-year-old had celebrated Christmas the day before and his family told how he had been perfectly fine. He had spent Christmas Day opening presents and had been dancing with his little brother Freddie, then two, to the Masked Singer. The following day, Emily had taken Freddie for a walk and returned home to find emergency services outside the house.
Alexander was taken to hospital but died later that evening. Following his death, his devastated parents began to raise awareness of sudden deaths in children, helping the charity Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood UK. The family was left with no answers for the cause of his sudden death for almost two years but then, towards the end of last year, doctors discovered Alexander had a rare genetic disorder, PPA2 mutation, that both his mother and father, Darren Bowes, are carriers for.
Heartbreakingly, it meant their three other children were also at risk of having the disorder. Emily was then pregnant and after tests, it was found Freddie and the couple’s then-unborn daughter were both free of the condition but Isabelle was affected.
Isabelle had been unwell over the past few days and had been to hospital with a bout of vomiting but had returned home on Monday. Tragically she died in the early hours of Thursday.
Emily later wrote on the social media site that while she herself was crippled by anxiety, Isabelle was “still the same cheeky, brave, healthy and happy girl”. She added: “Nothing has changed for her, so we have to try and keep life as calm and normal as possible for her too.”
In a heartfelt message, Emily urged everyone to learn CPR and how to use a defibrillator, emphasising the importance of being prepared for emergencies like the one that affected their family.
The tragic losses of Alexander and Isabelle have deeply impacted their family and community, highlighting the fragility of life and the need for awareness and support for families facing similar challenges. The Cooper family’s strength and resilience in the face of unimaginable losses serve as a reminder to cherish every moment with loved ones and be prepared to face life’s uncertainties with courage and love.