Girl, 16, dies of blood clot days before Christmas after starting the Pill – as her family donate organs to save 5 lives

A “BEAUTIFUL and intelligent” teenager tragically died from a brain clot after starting the pill, her family have revealed.

Layla Khan, 16, died unexpectedly on December 13, just weeks after starting the contraceptive pill on November 25 to help ease her painful periods.

She started suffering migraines on December 5 and also began vomiting from December 8 but her GP initially thought the problem was a stomach bug, her family said.

After screaming in agony in bed, her mum decided to take her to hospital, where doctors diagnosed the blood clot that had caused swelling on the brain.

Layla, who had three younger brothers and a sister, died within two days of arriving at the A&E at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby.

Her aunt Jenna Braithwaite told GrimsbyLive: “We can't even say the words about how devastated our family are, we've only just recently lost my Nana.

“With it being so close to Christmas as well, it's a time for celebration and it sucks all the Christmas spirit out of you.”

Blood clots are a serious condition when red blood cells stick together, which can restrict blood flow and cause swelling and pain as the blood gathers behind the clot.

They are rare in young, healthy people but can be more likely in people who are on hormonal contraception like the combined pill, according to the NHS

The condition can be life threatening if not treated quickly and the health service recommends ringing 111 if you are suffering symptoms, like throbbing pain or swelling.

Layla started experiencing migraines in early December but she was advised to wait to see her GP on December 11, according to her family.

She was “vomiting every 30 minutes” while at the appointment and was given anti-sickness tablets, Jenna said.

The doctor said there were “no red flags to go to hospital” but that she should do so if symptoms did not improve in two days, she said.

That evening, she started screaming because of pain “all over” her body and the family decided to take her to hospital.

She collapsed in the bathroom before they could get her to the car and became unresponsive.

Doctors gave her a CT scan and identified the clot and she was transported for surgery at Hull Royal Hospital, where she was later pronounced brain dead.

She was beautiful and intelligent, loved and cherished by so many people, and had her whole life ahead of her

Jenna said: “The fact that they said there were no red flags and then a day later she's brain dead, it's incomprehensible.”

Layla’s family decided to donate her organs to “save five other people's lives before Christmas”.

Jenna’s daughter and Layla’s cousin Alicia Binns, 17, is now running a fundraising campaign to raise money for Layla’s funeral.

Alicia said: “She was beautiful and intelligent, loved and cherished by so many people, and had her whole life ahead of her.

“We would like to help raise as much as possible to help with funeral costs to give Layla the best send-off possible, like she deserves.

“She was the oldest child and princess of the family, and she deserves the best because she was the best.

“Along with helping the family at this difficult time, especially this close to Christmas, every little helps.”

You can donate to the GoFundMe page here.

What are the symptoms of a blood clot in the brain?

Blood clots in the brain can cause:

• Intense and recurring headaches
• Sudden impediments like slowing or slurring in speech
• Blurry eyesight
• Uncontrollable motor functions
• Seizures
• Change in personality
• Dizziness
• Paralysis