THE community has rallied around the family of a four-month-old baby girl who died suddenly on Christmas Day.
Bonnie-Rae Chalk-Birtles was born on August 17 and was a ‘happy, healthy and beautiful little girl’.
She was beginning to show some real signs of her own ‘sweet’ personality and was adored by her big brother Harrison and sister Delilah.
Her mum, 22-year-old Tyla Chalk and dad, 35-year-old Nathan Birtles - who live in Ward Green - said that Bonnie-Rae completed their family in a way they didn’t know was missing and that she was the ‘final piece of the puzzle’.
However after putting her to bed on Christmas Eve, Bonnie-Rae was never able to celebrate her first Christmas with her beloved family.
Family friend Jade Leonie Casper told the Chronicle: “Bonnie-Rae was the most beautiful, happy and loving little girl.
“She lit up the room with her smile and touched the hearts of everyone who met her.
“She had just started to find her own voice with her little chuckles and babbling.
“She really was the most amazing little girl.
“She was born with so much hair and never actually lost any so at just over three months old we put her her first pig tails in.
“She loved her food and bottles so much so that the week before Christmas she tried her first bit of baby-friendly mash which she absolutely loved.
“On Christmas Eve, the family were all really excited because this would have been Bonnie-Rae’s first Christmas.
“Tyla put her daughter to bed and was really excited for the morning.
“But when she tried to wake Bonnie-Rae up for Christmas she realised something was wrong.
“She was cold and unresponsive.
“All the family rushed up to help.”
Jade says the family are trying to cope with the heartbreaking loss but the pain they are feeling is ‘unbearable’.
She added: “Bonnie-Rae’s 12-year-old brother Harrison called the ambulance which led to the emergency services turning up.
“We’re so proud of how brave he was.
“But it was too late and Bonnie-Rae had already gained her angel wings.
“The family are coping in the best way that they can.
“But this is every parents’ worst nightmare.
“The pain they are feeling is unbearable.
“But with the love and support from their family and friends they are trying their best.”
At this time, they do not yet have answers as to what caused Bonnie Rae’s passing, and they may not receive an official cause of death for several months while post-mortem examinations are completed.
Jade subsequently set up a fundraiser for the family to try and support them through the most difficult time of their lives.
More than £5,000 has been raised to date.
Jade said: “I have set this fundraiser up to take a bit of pressure off the family.
“Bonnie-Rae deserves the best send off possible.
“Nathan is self-employed so the last thing they need to be thinking about is going back to work - they need to be able to grieve properly.
“I also think this has helped show them how much love and support they actually have.”
A link to the fundraiser can be found on the Barnsley Chronicle website.
