A CARING teenage twin who fought against disability collapsed and died as she and her mum walked the family's dog.

The heartbroken family of Wendy Jane Dolan, 18, are still struggling to come to terms with her sudden death last Thursday afternoon.

Wendy's life was tragically cut short after her struggle to lead as normal a life as possible as she dealt with hydrocephalus - water on the brain.

Special

When only six months old, she had the first of three operations to have a special valve fitted to drain the fluid.

But Wendy battled back, studying for an NVQ at Bolton College and even learning to drive. As a child she had battled to walk and enjoyed canoeing trips, horse riding and mountain climbing.

Yesterday Wendy's parents, Colin, 42, and Dorothy, 41, told how their daughter had showered love on those around her and never mentioned her own disability.

Mrs Dolan, of Bateman Street, Horwich, said: "Wendy would just do anything for anybody. Everybody loved her so much.

"She was such a caring person and brought great joy to everyone who met her. We were proud that she was our daughter."

Wendy was walking to a nearby park with her mum and the family's Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Sam, when she suddenly complained of being short of breath.

Mrs Dolan added: "She just sort of slipped. I tried to get her up but she just wanted to lie down. I went to the nearest house and phoned Colin."

Her husband rushed to his daughter's aid as an ambulance travelled to the scene but tragically, despite the efforts of paramedics and casualty staff, Wendy died.

Post mortem reports have shown that a heart defect had caused Wendy to collapse.

Local people have been shocked by the sudden death of the well-known girl.

Mr Dolan said: "She used to love walking our dog and that's how people knew her.

"She never talked to us about her illness and she just got on with living her life. We have always been a close happy family. Wendy helped us and we helped her. I'm just so glad that Dorothy was with her when it happened. If Wendy had been at college when it happened we would have been devastated."

Wendy's twin brother Andrew and nine-year-old sister, Jennifer, are also trying to cope with their sister's death.

Yesterday her former headteacher at Birtenshaw Hall School spoke of his great shock on learning of the sudden death of the teenager.

Wendy first attended the Bromley Cross school in 1984, staying for a further 12 years.

Feel

Headteacher Chris Jamieson said: "This was totally unexpected and we feel very much for Wendy's family. We will always remember her as a very special person.

"She became much more competent physically and also more able to deal with the wider world which she had at first had difficulties with.

"But mostly we will remember Wendy for her caring nature and the way she always helped the younger children."

Scores of mourners are expected to attend Overdale West Chapel today at 2.30pm for Wendy's funeral service.

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