The family of a little girl with only months to live have made a heartfelt fundraising appeal to allow her to die with dignity at home.

Montana Kibble was diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis when she was just five months old, suffering a severe brain injury caused by the illness.

Eight months later she was adopted by Debbie Kibble, of Clifftown Gardens, Herne Bay, who has looked after her ever since.

Now 11, she requires round-the-clock care and has regular treatment at the QEQM Hospital in Margate and the Evalina London Children’s Hospital.

But her family says she does not have long to live, prompting Debbie to launch a bid to raise £2,500 for an Airvo 2 ventilator to help her breathing.

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The machine would allow her to receive treatment at home and give her loved ones more precious time with her.

Debbie, who is also a foster carer, said: “It’s a progressive condition. The meningitis has brought on other conditions like lung disease, so she could die at any time.

“It is incredibly difficult because it is like you can’t absorb the information. She has been ill ever since we’ve had her.

“When we first adopted her we thought she had mild cerebral palsy, but after a short time we realised she had a severe disability. As time went on we realised the effect of the meningitis she had when she was in hospital.

“Very few people realise that with the condition you can suffer a severe brain injury in the way Montana did.”

The breathing machine is currently provided at the Evalina Hospital, but Montana is now too weak to travel.

Debbie’s daughter, Natasha Kibble, also helps with Montana’s care and is helping to co-ordinate the fundraising effort, which has so far raised £1,000 and has a target of £2,500.

She said: “Her condition has deteriorated, and she has come home to die. The breathing machine would keep her at home with us just that little bit longer.

“We’ve been told it would be really difficult for Montana to even survive the journey to hospital" - Natasha Kibble

“We’ve been told it would be really difficult for Montana to even survive the journey to hospital.”

Debbie said: “It is about her life and her quality of life. We want her to be at home where she is comfortable and give her what she deserves to have instead of always having to fight the battle.

“She is able to respond to family and people she knows, and she smiles when she is well.

“We just take each day as it comes. However long Montana is here for, she needs to be comfortable and at home with her family.”

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