Jordon Fielden

A heartbroken mum has paid tribute to her teenage son with a little-known form of severe epilepsy who has died suddenly in his sleep.

Julie Fielden was devastated when she was unable to wake her son Jordon, 15.

The teenager, who was diagnosed with a condition called West Syndrome at just four months old, was on a daily course of drugs and a specialist diet.

The strict regime was slowly bringing his epileptic fits under control.

But tragedy struck when Mrs Fielden, 45, of Botany Avenue, Bolton, Bradford, could not rouse her son and was heartbroken to discover he had died.

Jordon's family today paid tribute to their "absolute treasure" - a popular schoolboy who lived life to the full in spite of his debilitating condition.

His mum said: "He was a beautiful, loving, caring little man. I love him and everybody around him loved him and cared for him, friends, family and everyone else that knew him."

Jordon's grandparents Audrey and Stuart Walker, of Somerset Avenue, Baildon, described Julie as an incredible mother who "couldn't do enough" for her beloved son.

"She was the most wonderful mum who looked after him so much," she said. "On the night he died, he had had his supper and gone to bed and his mum went to see him. She said night night, god bless' and kissed him on the cheeks.

"In the morning he wasn't there waiting for her like he usually was.

"It is devastating for all of us because it was so unexpected."

A former pupil of Greenfields special school in Thackley and Milestone in Stanningley, Leeds, Jordon enjoyed the outdoors and trips away, his grandmother said.

He had been due to go with her to a cottage near Windermere in the Lake District over Easter to spend time with her and his grandfather, who described Jordon as his "best friend".

"He was an absolute treasure to us," said Mrs Walker. "When he was diagnosed with West Syndrome, he was four months old and they didn't know what kind of life expectancy he would have because it is quite an unusual condition and everybody has different symptoms.

"They told us that he might not be speaking, seeing or hearing but he was able to do everything in his own way.

"He couldn't speak, he could only tell you with his eyes but he had his own idiosyncrasies and understood things.

"And everybody knew him as the little boy with the slinky, because he was fascinated with slinkys. He was just amazed by the colours.

"He was such a wonderful person."

Hundreds of cards of condolence and a poem have been sent to the family from well-wishers and tributes have been paid by staff at St Stephen's Respite Unit in St Stephen's Road, Bradford.

Jordon was a regular visitor to the centre, which cares for children with learning disabilities. Staff at the centre were yesterday sharing in the family's grief.

Syed Shah, a family support respite worker at St Stephen's Respite Unit, said: "It is so sad just talking about him - it really upsets us because he had been coming to us for a long time and was well liked here.

"He was a very bright character, always a very happy child and he will be sorely missed by all of us."

West syndrome is a rare and serious form of epilepsy which accounts for about one in 20 cases of childhood epilepsy.

Tragically, long-term control of seizures and maintenance of normal brain function is achieved in fewer than 15 per cent of affected children.

An inquest into Jordon's death has been opened and adjourned to allow the family to hold his funeral. It will be held at St John's Parish Church in Baildon on Thursday, April 3, at 11am.

5:59am Saturday 29th March 2008

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