TWO weeks ago the parents of 13-year-old Beatrice Carr were preparing for her funeral.

On a life-support machine, the former Beckley Primary School girl had her breathing tube removed and she was given just minutes to live.

At Helen & Douglas House, a hospice for children and young people, Joanna Swindells Carr and Paul Carr, held their only child and braced themselves to watch her slip away.

But, holding back the tears, last night, the Marston couple told the Oxford Mail about her astonishing turn around, which they said has left doctors stunned at her “miracle” survival.

They also pointed to the “phenomenal kindness” and compassion they had received from the East Oxford hospice, which welcomed them with open arms and has made their “living nightmare” more bearable.

Three years ago, Bea – as she is known to her family – aged 10, suffered a severe asthma attack, which almost killed her and left her permanently brain damaged.

She was blind, mute and lost the use of her limbs, but she can still hear, understand and communicate by blinking.

In September, following a planned operation to correct her scoliosis – curvature of the spine – at Oxford’s John Radcliffe hospital, her health suddenly deteriorated.

A cardiac arrest led to her being put on a life-support machine and doctors warned the couple she was unlikely to survive.

They decided to remove the tube after learning it would not prolong her life for much longer – and began preparing for her funeral.

At the Magdalen Road hospice they said their goodbyes.

Mrs Swindells Carr said: “It’s the hardest thing to tell your child that they are going to die because parents are supposed to be able to fix things and make things right for their children but we felt completely helpless.”

But Beatrice refused to give up.

Mr Carr said: “The breathing tube was removed and amazingly Bea began to breath unaided. Then we realised we had an hour with our daughter ... minutes turned into hours and soon we began to plan for Bea’s first night at Helen House.”

Mrs Swindells Carr added: “I lay in her bed with her wide awake all night listening for everything and if she missed a breath I sat straight up.”

The family were dealt another blow the following day when Bea suffered more two more setbacks, but, remarkably, she pulled through.

Mrs Swindells Carr said: “Since that Wednesday we have had 14 days of our daughter that we did not expect.

“She has astonished medics and everyone involved in her care. Her survival is a miracle. She has torn up the rule book and rewritten the script.

“From that day, I Iearned to live in the moment; that moment can be brushing her hair, or stroking her cheek or holding her hand while she sleeps.”

Doctors have told the family they are still living on a “knife-edge” and their daughter is still critically ill, but for now she is stable.

Her mother said: “Right now, we are in limbo. We can not plan Christmas, we could lose her this afternoon, but the tough little sausage that she is ... she might be here for her 14th birthday in February.”

Mr Carr added: ”We are so proud of her courage, patience, tenacity and good humour throughout her ordeals. She is an inspiration to us all.”

eallen@oxfordmail.co.uk