A PONTLLANFRAITH couple say they are broken-hearted after the death of their five-year-old severely disabled daughter.

Claire and Dennis Orchard's daughter Rhiannon was completely dependent on them after her birth at Torbay Hospital, Devon.

South Devon Healthcare Trust has apologised to the couple for Rhiannon's delivery, which bosses admit should have been earlier, and the trust has admitted a breach of duty.

Rhiannon, who was born with severe brain damage, died peacefully at Ty-Hafan Children’s Hospice with her parents and 10-year-old sister Rebecca at her side.

Her life involved needing round-the-clock care as she was unable to walk, talk or sit up by herself.

Mr and Mrs Orchard, from Brynteg Avenue, said their daughter was beautiful with an infectious smile.

Mr Orchard said things will never be the same but said they are trying keep positive so as to survive.

He said: "She is still going to be alive with us. We will always talk to her and she will still be here."

The couple described it as a tearing loss and said they are better people because of Rhiannon.

Four weeks ago Rhiannon was taken to the high dependency ward at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, with a chest infection.

Mr Orchard said: “We thought it was nothing more than before. It happened so many times but she always pulled through.”

She was then transferred to intensive critical care at the University of Wales Hospital, Heath, Cardiff.

Rhiannon spent two weeks on life support before she died at 7pm on Monday, October 21 at the Ty-Hafan hospice.

Mrs Orchard said she was sceptical of religion after Rhiannon’s traumatic birth.

But moments after Rhiannon died Mrs Orchard said she could feel her daughter around her.

Mrs Orchard said she was walking out of the hospice to her car and could smell her around her.

She said: “It was like lightning through my body. It has restored my faith that she has gone to a better life. She was telling me she is all right.”

The Argus reported in August how Mrs Orchard used to sleep next to her daughter every night and woke up every two hours to change Rhiannon’s sleeping position so she did not develop pressure marks.

Mr Orchard said: “Claire never let her out of her sight. We were like a conveyor belt.”

Mrs Orchard said she is now thinking of doing a nursing course and would like to work with children.

A funeral service for Rhiannon will be held at Woodfield Park Funeral Home in Oakdale at 11am today followed by burial at Bedwellty Cemetery.

Brain damage happened during birth

Rhiannon was born with severe brain damage on June 30, 2003, at Torbay Hospital, Devon.

The couple said their baby’s heart rate dipped and continued to drop until a midwife did an emergency caesarean section.

Mrs Orchard said Rhiannon did not take her first breath until 25 minutes after she was born.

The trust says it had made changes following Rhiannon's birth including increasing consultant cover.

The couple had received regular payments from South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation which went into a trust fund for Rhiannon's everyday care.

A decision about the final level of compensation was expected to be made on July 6, 2009 but Mr Orchard said he does not know what is now going to happen with the case.