THE father of a young west Belfast woman who died a week after suffering an epileptic seizure has paid an emotional tribute to the mother-of-two.
Louise McIlwaine (30) never regained consciousness after undergoing emergency brain surgery last weekend.
She had just kissed her two little boys Tom (9) and Martin (6) goodbye when she had a seizure and fell last Friday outside her parents' home at Rinnalea Gardens in Lenadoon.
Her heartbroken family had maintained a vigil in the Royal Victoria Hospital and her parents, Martin and Marguerite, were at their daughter's bedside when she passed away early yesterday.
They had hoped to donate her organs, respecting her desire to help others, but circumstances at the end meant this could not happen.
Her death comes four years after a serious infection led to the talented hairdresser and beauty therapist having to undergo both open heart surgery and brain surgery in the space of a week.
Despite being given slim chances of survival, she recovered and went on to live her life to the full with her young children, although she developed epilepsy.
Speaking last night, Martin McIlwaine said his daughter's death had left the family in "total devastation".
"Louise was just one of those special, special wee girls," he said.
"A special person who loved life and was a character in life. She would have given somebody her last penny. She would have run to the end of the world for somebody.
"She was the most loving, caring mother anybody could wish for. I've told the kids, she's their star up in the sky."
He said his daughter would continue to "shine" through her children.
"Louise was well thought of throughout the whole community," he said.
"She will be remembered as the character she was. Her sense of humour was second to none."
The Lenadoon man also appealed for people to sign up to the organ donation register.
"We as a family believed Louise wanted to be a giver of life," he said.
"This is what she chose and this is what she would have wanted. I would ask anyone to please consider it".
Requiem Mass for Louise McIlwaine will take place on Monday at 10am at St Oliver Plunkett Church, with burial afterwards in Milltown Cemetery.
