Tears flow for Bannockburn teenager Charlotte Studham

A Bannockburn teenager, who dreamt of working with animals, has died after battling epilepsy for most of her life. Read her mum’s emotional tribute to the girl with a smile that lit up the room.

Charlotte Studham died on November 3, aged just 13. She was first diagnosed with epilepsy when she was five.

Charlotte Studham had a smile that lit up the room, a wicked sense of humour and dreamt of working with animals.

The 13-year-old also lived with severe epilepsy that caused debilitating seizures that could last more than four hours.

On November 3, the illness claimed her life.

Her mum, Brooke Studham, said Charlotte died from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).

“She tried to be a normal 13-year-old,” Mrs Studham said.

“She had a wicked sense of humour, loved dancing, loved motorbikes and loved Collingwood (Football Club).”

Charlotte was first diagnosed with epilepsy when she was five.

Mrs Studham said her daughter, who was then in prep, suffered two seizures at school and was put on medication that relieved the symptoms.

The Studham family – India, Brandon, Charlotte, Brooke and Dominic.

A few years later, when in grade four, Charlotte experienced a seizure in the middle of the night while on scout camp.

But it was in 2019 that Charlotte’s health took a turn for the worse.

In the middle of the year she had a four-and-a-half hour convulsion at school and had to be monitored overnight in hospital.

Mrs Studham said her bubbly and bright daughter suddenly started having lengthy epileptic tonic-clonic seizures every few days.

The violent episodes lasted hours and stripped Charlotte of the independence she yearned for.

The family was dealt another bitter blow when Charlotte was also diagnosed with functional neurological disorder – a group of common neurological movement disorders caused by an abnormality in how the brain functions.

‘SHE COULDN’T GO ANYWHERE ON HER OWN’

Mrs Studham said Charlotte would “just drop” up to 80 times a day.

“Everything stopped, she couldn’t go anywhere on her own,” Mrs Studham said.

“That was her life until she passed away.”

Despite the restrictions of her illness, Mrs Studham said Charlotte never lost hope.

The Bannockburn P-12 College year 8 student loved spending time with friends and hoped to work with animals.

Charlotte Studham died aged just 13.

But, Mrs Studham said she always thought her daughter could have become a midwife.

“She wanted to be an animal rescuer. I’d joke we’d need a bigger property,” she said.

“She loved animals, she loved babies. I could see her doing something in the maternity area.

“She really wasn’t afraid to get out there and do things.”

‘THE LIGHT HAD GONE’

Mrs Studham said in late August Charlotte suffered multiple seizures and was so ill she lost her memory for weeks.

“The light had gone, she couldn’t remember dance moves, she couldn’t remember anything. She used to get so frustrated,” Mrs Studham said.

Charlotte had started to recover, but Mrs Studham said she suffered a seizure on November 2.

Mrs Studham said she woke on November 3 to find her daughter had died overnight.

“She was bigger than life, she had the dimples and she just that this glint in her eyes,” she said.

“I’ll miss everything – her compassion. I just miss her. I miss my shadow.

“It doesn’t feel real.”

Mrs Studham said her family wanted to raise awareness of epilepsy and had started a GoFundMe to raise money for organisations including Geelong hospital and Epilepsy Australia.

Charlotte’s life will be celebrated at a private funeral in Geelong on Monday.

Originally published as Tears flow for Bannockburn teenager Charlotte Studham