Memorial service for fallen Felixton dancer
Autopsy results showed the young dancer had an enlarged aorta.
AS the Sclanders family grapples to come to terms with the death of their daughter, Ashley (12), results of an autopsy a week later show that the young dance student had an enlarged aorta.
This resulted in acute heart failure during her dancing exam last Wednesday at Empangeni’s Moth Hall.
Showing no symptoms of the condition, doctors say they were amazed that Ashley – a Grade 7 Felixton College pupil – had lived as long as she did with this being a very rare condition.
Ashley’s mom, Karen Sclanders, and her dance teacher, Kim van der Merwe, tried their best to assist Ashley when she collapsed during her Dance Academy exam on Wednesday morning.
Despite paramedics’ heroic efforts at resuscitation for more than an hour, she sadly passed on shortly after arriving at Empangeni Garden Clinic.
A memorial service will be held at Felixton College at the Dickson Oval on Monday, 23 June at 11am.
Zululanders continue to rally around the family with messages of support flooding the Zululand Observer facebook page as well as mom Karen’s personal facebook page.
‘I have the most amazing support structure anyone in this world could ever dream of,’ said Karen.
‘Today my day was filled with visitors from 7am till now. You have all been absolutely amazing. My messages I am reading on FB makes every minute seem that little more easy. I want to thank each one of you personally but it will take me days. Thank you each and every one of you. Our little Ash is so badly missed!
