A "bright and devoted" mother-of-two has died after suffering a stroke at the age of 26.

Amie Baker, of Waverley Close, Coxheath, was shopping with her mum when she first felt unwell but despite numerous tests, nothing could predict the tragedy that would happen three days later.

The former Senacre Technology College pupil died at Maidstone Hospital on Sunday, February 1.

A scan the previous day returned clear but when doctors performed a second examination a couple of hours later, they found two-thirds of her brain cells were dead and told her loved ones to say their goodbyes.

She had two daughters with partner Ben Steel, seven-year-old Evie and seven-month-old Connie.

Her mother, Mandy Knowler, 53, said: "She was the best mum in the world. She would do anything to make sure they had the best of everything.

"She was the best mum in the world. She would do anything to make sure they had the best of everything..." - Mandy Knowler

"We'll make sure Amie is a huge part of their lives. Ben loved her to bits. He’ll be lost without her. We all will be. It’s like we’re living in a nightmare."

Miss Knowler was with her daughter at Lakeside, Essex, on Thursday, January 29, when she complained of feeling unwell and needed to sit down.

Paramedics examined her for two hours, but did not detect any serious symptoms and advised Miss Baker to visit a GP.

Her condition was thought to be a viral infection, but her family called for an ambulance the next evening when she was sick and began slurring her words.

She was taken to hospital and put in an induced coma while doctors carried out scans and tests with the assistance of King’s College Hospital in London, which specialises in neurosciences.

The next day, her loved ones were told specialists had done everything they could but that she would never wake up.

Miss Knowler said: "We went from waiting to hear what they would try next to there being no hope at all. We couldn’t believe what we were hearing. It was just heartbreaking.

"She was a natural mum and was completely devoted to the two girls. She was fiercely protective of them.

"She was a shopaholic and we would go shopping four times a week. We were very close. We would talk for an hour and then text each other straight after."

Miss Baker was an only child but was close to her cousins, who live nearby to her childhood home in Sutton Road.

"Ben loved her to bits. He’ll be lost without her. We all will be. It’s like we’re living in a nightmare..." - Mandy Knowler

They were among 50 friends and relatives, including her dad, Andy Baker, who visited before she was taken off life support.

Miss Knowler, who worked previously at NatWest in Marden High Street, said: "We made sure Amie had her make-up on as she would have hated people seeing her without it. It’s so hard to accept she isn’t here anymore. We miss her so much."

Peter Davis, who employed Miss Baker at his business, Stone Tile Warehouse in Park Wood Industrial Estate, said: "Amie was excellent at her job. She was a very strong, bright and popular girl."

More than 300 people filled All Saints’ Church in Maidstone to say their goodbyes.

Her coffin was taken to the service in Mill Street in a white horse-drawn carriage covered in floral tributes.

Songs included Sam Smith’s Stay With Me, which had a special meaning for Miss Baker and partner Ben Steel, and Over the Rainbow by Eva Cassidy.

Honey by Bobby Goldsboro was played as a nod to Miss Baker’s memories of her dad, Andy Baker, singing the track to her at karaoke nights.

Miss Knowler said: "It was overwhelming to see so many people there. Amie has a close group of friends but was also really popular.

"She was like a Creme Egg, hard on the outside and soft on the inside. She was a good judge of character."

Miss Baker was buried at Maidstone Crematorium in Sutton Road.

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