Melody Driscoll, an inspirational schoolgirl from Croydon, has died after a battle with illness at the age of 11.
She suffered from a number medical problems, including Rett Syndrome, which is a rare genetic disorder which causes severe physical and mental disabilities. Her death was announced today (July 4) on the Melody in Mind Facebook group, which has kept her supporters up to date with her battle.
A post read: “Melody is now at peace with the angels”.
Ed first met 11-year-old Melody in 2016, and the little girl apparently blew kisses to the singer every time she saw him on TV. He then revisited her at London’s O2 Arena at a meet and greet.Her mum Karina said at the time: “Ed’s management phoned in the morning, and I said that she wasn’t feeling 100 per cent well but that she had been given the OK by the hospital to attend. 
The girl’s parents are facing a legal battle to get their daughter pain relief
Ed Sheeran is helping the parents of a terminally ill girl raise £50,000 towards their legal battle to get their daughter pain relief. Sheeran first met 11 year old Melody when he agreed to visit her in hospital in 2016, but now the singer has donated a signed guitar to her parents.Melody suffers from an incurable disease called Rett Syndrome, which affects brain development.
The disease means Melody is unable to walk or talk, but now the parents have claimed the hospital will be withdrawing her pain relief.Last October, Melody’s parents Karina and Nigel Driscoll were told by staff at London’s King’s College Hospital that morphine and steroids could be damaging to Melody’s liver and they were hoping to wean their daughter off the medication.The guitar donated by Sheeran to help fund the family’s legal battle
“They have a really close relationship, Ed sends Melody video messages and he bought her an iPad so she can listen to his music,” Ms Driscoll told The Independent. “She absolutely loves him, in hospital she is surrounded by him, she has an Ed Sheeran pillow, an Ed Sheeran doll. “They share a lovely little bond and he wants to keep her in his life, he has been touched by her.
” The Driscolls, from New Addington, south London, say doctors withdrew their daughter’s medicine over fears it could cause damage to her liver, but the move has left her in extreme pain. They argue Melody, whose condition means she is at risk of sudden death, should be allowed pain medication to improve her quality of life for whatever time she has left.
Melody, 11, is a huge fan of the singer-songwriter
Sheeran donated the custom-made instrument, signed with the message: “Play this guitar, lots of love, Ed” to help the family raise money to challenge the decision in the courts. “It was overwhelming,” Ms Driscoll added: “We have made sure not to ask him for anything, we do not want their relationship to be about that, it is about Ed and Melody.
“For him to reach out and offer to help us raise money to make sure she has the best quality of life we can give her is an absolutely amazing gesture.“From the moment he met her he has never treated Melody any differently, that is why we really respect him.
“Her disability does not matter to him, he treats her like a normal little girl and that is really important to her.” Retts syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects brain development, resulting in profound mental and physical disabilities, according to the NHS. The condition affects around one in 12,000 girls born each year and is only rarely seen in males.
King’s College Hospital Foundation Trust declined to comment on the case, but said all decisions taken by its staff “are in our patients’ best interests”.
However, the parents have now launched a legal battle, which is said to be costing £50,000. Social services have also threatened to remove Melody from her parents’ custody if legal proceedings go ahead. The parents took to Twitter to share photos of Melody with the guitar Sheeran donated and have said they are “overwhelmed” with his support.
We got pictures of Melody with Ed Sheeran’s guitar we are auctioning so everyone can see why we are doing it. For this beautiful little girl right here.
We are still waiting to hear from a few people regarding the way forward. Once we know the fine details ALL WILL BE REVEALED 💛 pic.twitter.com/cV6jh1rzSt— Melody In Mind (@KazzMarie) February 27, 2018
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“When we got to the 02 we were allowed to park backstage and I could hear a man on the radio saying ‘she’s here’.We then went to Ed’s room and waited. “He arrived and for the first five minutes Melody was starstruck. He had to show off his tattoos and then she just smiled, the way the two of them reacted together was just so good to watch.”
Melody’s health had deteriorated in recent months, and in May she was placed onto life-support after an unsuccessful operation.
“When we got to the 02 we were allowed to park backstage and I could hear a man on the radio saying ‘she’s here’. We then went to Ed’s room and waited. “He arrived and for the first five minutes Melody was starstruck. He had to show off his tattoos and then she just smiled, the way the two of them reacted together was just so good to watch.”
Melody’s health had deteriorated in recent months, and in May she as placed onto life-support after an unsuccessful operation.
