Her smile lit up room, says grieving mother
The heartbroken mother of a teenager who died suddenly, today paid tribute to her little girl whose 'smile and personality lit up the room'.
Natalie Chetter, from Kidderminster, died aged 13 from natural causes on January 19. The Baxter College pupil was found in the bath at her home on Park Street, where she lived with mother Julie and brother Kieran, 12.
The second youngest of five siblings, Natalie wanted to be a vet and planned to go to college but her life was tragically cut short and Ms Chetter said she will never fully understand why her daughter died.
Natalie was found at 8pm by her younger brother. Paramedics tried desperately for 50 minutes to save her but just before 9pm, the family were told the devastating news.
Ms Chetter said: "When we found her she still had a pulse but she was unconscious. They did everything they could."
The post mortem examination showed that Natalie did not drown in the bath and a report states they were unlikely to ever know the exact cause of death. The inquest recorded that she died as a result of natural causes of unknown aetiology.
Natalie's mother said: "It's hard to understand because we don't have the answers. I'm never going to fully understand why but she didn't drown, there wasn't any water on her lungs and they promised me she didn't suffer." Sister Nicola, 24, added: "We're glad she was at home when it happened and we take some comfort in that she was with her family. My sister had a big bubbly personality and seeing her would make my day. She is loved by so many and we think about her every day."
The funeral for the former St John's Primary School pupil was held on February 11 at St John's Church on Bewdley Road.
Now, four months after her death, pictures of Natalie cover the family's mantelpiece and lounge mirror. Upstairs,her room is the same. On one wall is a JLS calendar showing January and on another wall hangs a One Direction poster.
Ms Chetter said: "Every night I close her bedroom blind and put her night light on. I say 'night angel, I love you' and then each morning, when her alarm used to go off for school, I open her blinds. It's a habit I can't bear to break."
Baxter College is organising a memorial garden for Natalie. An auntie to two nephews and one niece, she dreamed of one day being a mother.
Ms Chetter said: "She would do anything for the kids, she loved them all.
"We found a list in her room of baby names for when she grew up. In woodwork, she was making a train set for her nephew but never got to finish it. We will make sure they know how much she loved them."
