TRIBUTES have been paid to ‘an inspirational angel’ with a rare genetic disorder who passed away aged seven.

Abigail Rawson suffered from Jacobsen Syndrome, a rare disorder that only affects around 250 people worldwide.

The life-limiting disorder meant that smiley Abigail had very little mobility and could not stand or sit on her own.

The syndrome also caused her to suffer from breathing problems and she had a tracheotomy at the age of nine months to help her to breathe.

The life expectancy of someone with Jacobsen Syndrome is hard for doctors to pinpoint exactly, as the disorder is so extremely rare, but little fighter Abigail surpassed doctor’s expectations by living well over her 5th birthday, an event that they had expected her not to see.

Abigail lived in Haslingden with her carers, Samantha Prestwich, her partner Jason and her youngest daughter, Laura.

As Abigail could not speak, the family learnt to read her facial expressions and say that they could tell what she was trying to communicate by the way she looked or reacted to their words or actions.

She loved to be held and cuddled and be the centre of attention.

The family are devastated by the loss of tiny Abigail and say that their lives will never be the same again.

Samantha said: “She was such a small little thing but she has left a huge hole in our lives.

“Everything we did revolved around Abigail. She had to have so much equipment with her at all times and we had to plan everything that we did to make sure it was ‘Abigail accessible’ and now, well I just don’t know what we’ll do without her.”

Abigail was a popular pupil at Tor View Special School in Haslingden and Samantha recounts the first day she walked into the school hall with her.

“The children in the hall saw her and all shouted “Abigail! Abigail’s here!” and the next thing I was surrounded with children.

“I just want people to know what an inspirational angel she really was.

“Nobody could be grumpy while she was around and despite everything she went through, she was determined and happy.

”She was a joy to have around and she smiled right until the very end.”