Heartbreaking picture shows beautiful smile of prom girl ravaged by deadly disease<><><><><>





Corah-Beth Slaney's mum said the prom night was something they will treasure forever as it reminded them of the happy times they'd shared




said the prom night was something they will treasure forever as it reminded them of the happy times they'd shared</p>" data-title="Heartbreaking picture shows smile of prom girl ravaged by deadly disease" data-type="tw-share" data-url="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/heartbreaking-picture-shows-beautiful-smile-5234016#ICID=sharebar_twitter" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border-right-color: rgb(208, 208, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-width: 0px 1px 0px 0px; color: #737373; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0.13043478em 0px 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0.43478261em 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" title="Twitter">


CatersCorah-Beth Slaney at prom
Stunning: Corah-Beth Slaney at prom

This is the moment a beautiful prom girl gave her parents a perfect smile for the camera before a deadly condition ravaged her body.
Just one month later, Corah-Beth Slaney, 16, from Nottingham, was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease - a life limiting disease that prevents the body from producing energy for vital organs and muscles.
The beautiful school girl enjoyed her glamorous prom night with her friends, but her devastated parents have since watched helplessly as the disease has taken over her body.
Corah's mum, Lisa Slaney, 43, said: "It was heart-breaking to hear that our little girl had such an awful, terminal disease.
"After her prom night Corah's health rapidly declined, she's now unable to walk, feed or wash herself.
"Mitochondrial disease has devastated our lives and it's so rare that there's not much information about it.
"Doctors have warned us that Corah has months to live rather than years and we're just trying to make the most out of our time left as a family.
"She is my only daughter as I have two older sons which makes this even harder for us to take."
Now, the picture of Corah at the prom, is a precious moment for Lisa and Corah's dad, Carl.
Lisa said: "Corah's prom night is something we will treasure forever, it reminds us of the happy times we've shared.
"But despite Corah's diagnosis she has never stopped smiling and still manages to try and sing when she's feeling well enough."

CatersCorah-Beth Slaney after diagnosis
Exhausterd: Corah-Beth Slaney has mitochondrial disease which prevents the body producing energy for vital organs and muscles

Doctors were at first baffled by Corah's symptoms but just one month later her parents were told the devastating news.
Corah suffered no health problems up until she was 12-years-old but in 2011 she developed diabetes and needed insulin with every meal, she then started suffering from seisures and was diagnosed with epilepsy.
Lisa said: "Corah's life had suddenly changed overnight and now me and her dad, Carl, needed to help her manage her health.
"That was devastating enough but when her seizures started getting worse we knew something wasn't adding up.
"Doctors had no idea that diabetes and seizures were symptoms of mitochondrial disease.
"The medication she was on failed to stop her having fits and it took years of hospital appointments before we got an accurate diagnosis."
In June 2014, Corah was due to undergo life-changing brain surgery to help control her seizures.
But Corah needed to be taken off all medication for this to be carried out - something that led to massive, uncontrollable fits.
Lisa added: "It wasn't until a specialist suggested that Corah may have mitochondrial disease that I had ever heard of it.

CatersCorah-Beth Slaney and her mum Lisa
Family support: Mum Lisa and the rest of the family help Corah-Beth even dressing her in the mornings

"A muscle biopsy was taken and it was then confirmed that Corah had this horrible disease."
Lisa and Carl are now desperate to raise as much awareness as possible for the condition that will kill their girl.
The couple are currently waiting to go to Great Ormond Street to talk with consultants about the best drugs available to help Corah.
Lisa said: "Corah took a massive turn for the worst in December, she suffered a huge seizure and we all thought she was going to die.
"Her condition means we are living on a time bomb we don't know how long we have left as a family.
"Corah's mind works perfectly fine so it's such a shame that at 16-years-old she relies on me to wash and dress her.
"We are just trying to make sure she has the best quality of life while she's still with us."
Mitochondrial disease causes extreme tiredness, as well as involuntary movements. Lisa said:

CatersCorah-Beth Slaney resting at home
Rare: Corah-Beth Slaney's family are campaigning to raise awareness of mitochondrial disease

"The seizures have left Corah with muscle weakness and she is now wheelchair bound.
"I've taken up the role as Corah's full time carer as I want to spend as much time with my daughter as possible.
"We're trying to get Corah to feed herself again, which would be amazing. But we don't know what's going to happen, so we just take each day as it comes."
Since Corah's diagnosis, the family have been doing all they can to keep her spirits up.
Lisa added: "Corah recently met Jessie J which really helped lift her spirits, she loves singing so it was fantastic for her to meet her idol.
"We're in the process of trying to get as many people as possible to send Corah video messages to cheer her up, she loves Keith Lemon."
Despite the family struggling to cope with Corah's shocking diagnosis, they are sharing her story in the hope of some way improving the lives of being with the terminal condition.
Lisa said: "Corah is constantly deteriorating and now that she can't do anything for herself we are on the waiting list to get a wet room in our house.
"Originally the council placed Corah at the bottom of a two-year waiting list but thanks to our supporters we are now at the top of that list.
"But unfortunately no funding will be available until April and even then, the work is likely to exceed the maximum grants available."

CatersCorah-Beth Slaney her mum lisa, her dad Carl and Jessie J
Special fan: Corah-Beth, who loves singing, met Jessie J with her mum Lisa and her dad Carl

So the family have set up a fundraising page for Corah in a bid to raise the vital funds for her wet room and downstairs bedroom.
Lisa added: "I want to ensure Corah has the best quality of life possible and having her own downstairs area at home would greatly improve that.
"In just over two weeks we've raised over £7,000."
To help the family with their fundraising please visit:www.gofundme.com/SingASong4Corah
The family have pledged that any surplus funds will be donate to The Lily Foundation, who help research into mitochondrial disease and other metabolic disorders