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`Everyone will really miss her'

From the archive, first published Friday 1st Jul 2005.

Devastated staff and students at a Quinton school are reeling after the shock death of a popular 22-year-old teaching assistant.

Tragic Gemma Handley, of Ridgacre Road, died after suffering an epileptic fit.

She had worked as a teaching assistant with children with Downs Syndrome at Four Dwellings High School, Dwellings Lane, since October 2001.

Tributes have flooded in for Gemma, from colleagues and family.

Her sister Lisa, who also worked as a teaching assistant at the school, said: "We are sorry Gemma has missed out so much on her life as she was so happy.

"We were very, very, very close, we did everything together as a family.

"She had had more severe fits than she had ever had before but seemed fine the night before she died."

Gemma had got engaged at Christmas to boyfriend Mark and lived at home with her parents Sue and Keith.

Mark Garside, assistant headteacher at Four Dwellings, said: "Gemma's death has left the school devastated. The kids are finding it difficult to understand why she has died.

"Students regarded her as a friend, she was very caring and had a great sense of humour.

"She was very committed to what she did and made a difference to the lives of many kids at Four Dwellings.

"Everyone at the school will really miss her."

Gemma had suffered from epilepsy since she was six and was discovered in her bedroom by mum Sue sitting against her wall. She was taken to Selly Oak Hospital and her life support machine was switched off the following day, with her family around her on June 7.

She had stopped breathing, had suffered from considerable swelling to the brain due to lack of oxygen, had a cardiac arrest and an epileptic fit.

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