A beloved mum tragically died 5 weeks after the beginning of her youngest when she instantly collapsed at residence after struggling a ‘preventable’ blood clot, leaving the household with only one cherished image collectively and calling for extra consciousness of the dangers post-pregnancy.
“Fun and loving” assistant psychological well being nurse, 32, was overjoyed when her lovely child lady, Betty Crosbie, was born on February 9, 2020, after an extended being pregnant coping with pelvic ache which meant she struggled to maneuver round.
Only one image was ever taken of Samantha along with her three youngsters as her life was cruelly reduce brief on March 16 that 12 months after simply 5 treasured weeks as a household of 5.
She instantly collapsed at her residence in Red Hill, Surrey, whereas her husband, scaffolder Paul Crosbie, 38, and their eldest youngsters, Stanley, then 5, and Evelyn, then 9, had been on the cinema.
As she misplaced consciousness, Samantha had been on the telephone to her mom, Jane Parker, 62, who started to frantically shout her daughter’s identify down the telephone earlier than calling for an ambulance, which rushed her to the hospital.
Devastatingly, Samantha died the subsequent day, after assessments revealed she had suffered a Pulmonary Embolism (PE) – a blocked blood vessel within the lungs and coronary heart which happens when a blood clot, normally from the veins of the legs, breaks off and travels to the lungs. Though uncommon, that is one thing that pregnant girls are at elevated danger of.
While nonetheless devastated by her loss, Samantha’s mum, Jane, who lives in Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey, hopes her daughter’s expertise may also help educate different girls, saying: “If Samantha had been more aware of the risks, she might still be here today.
“I want her children to know that we did everything we could to help make a difference.
“I want them to know that her life wasn’t wasted.”
Above all the things, Jane mentioned, Samantha at all times needed to have youngsters.
“It was her lifelong ambition to be a mother,” Jane mentioned. “She loved them and did everything with them.
“She would always be doing fancy dress – dressing up like prisoners or The Simpsons for fun at home or dressing up the buggy as a bumble bee for a village fete competition.
“She always had these fun, clever ideas which they loved.”
It was early 2019 when Samantha and Paul came upon they had been anticipating one other child, Betty, due in February 2020.
While the couple had been delighted, Samantha struggled with the being pregnant – particularly with pelvic girdle ache – which might trigger ache strolling, climbing stairs and turning over in mattress.
Jane mentioned: “She had girdle pain with her other pregnancies but with this one, it kicked in straight away and she found it really difficult to get about.
“The pain became so bad, she ended up staying home most of the time.”
On February 9, little Betty was born and the household had been overjoyed.
Jane mentioned: “Samantha was so happy – she not only had her baby girl, but the hip pain had gone away too.”
Following an ear an infection shortly after giving beginning, Samantha gave the impression to be settling again into her routine.
But simply 5 weeks after giving beginning, Samantha instantly collapsed.
Jane mentioned: “I referred to as Samantha within the morning whereas she was within the buying centre with Betty, searching for what I now know was my Mother’s Day current.
“She was saying that the wheel of her buggy was stuck and then she couldn’t find her parking ticket.”
It was shortly after Samantha arrived residence that it grew to become clear one thing was very unsuitable.
Jane mentioned: “I was still on the phone to her saying we would come over later to fix the buggy and then suddenly she went all funny, speaking gibberish, and then it went silent.
“I was calling and calling her and she said, ‘I think I’ve fainted’ but then she went again.”
Desperately shouting Samantha’s identify, Jane referred to as for an ambulance whereas frantically making an attempt to pay money for Paul – who was within the cinema with their two different youngsters.
Rushed to hospital, scans revealed that Samantha had suffered an enormous blood clot within the lungs and coronary heart.
For the subsequent 24 hours, docs tried to do all the things they might to save lots of Samantha however tragically, there was nothing they might do.
Jane mentioned: “It was devastating.
“Everything changed that day. It broke my heart.”
After a painful two years via the pandemic, on July 16 this 12 months, Jane needed to do one thing in Samantha’s reminiscence and organised a memorial competition in a village in Walton-on-the-Hill – together with Evelyn, now 12, Stanley, now seven, and two-year-old Betty.
She mentioned: “I wanted to have a fun day to celebrate her life and not just get lost in the two years before.
“Everyone had wristbands with Samantha’s name on and the kids let balloons off for her and everyone had a can of diet coke, which was her favourite.
“We had ten minutes of Spice Girls, which she loved, and we played the sound of Samantha laughing over the speakers too, which was really emotional.”
But Jane additionally hopes to maintain Samantha’s reminiscence alive by elevating consciousness of blood clots via the charity Thrombosis UK.
She mentioned: “Nowadays, you don’t have the identical midwife the entire time, you could have numerous totally different ones so they may not know all the things that’s taking place.
“Samantha not being able to move around for nine months, not doing very much, was a sign that could have been highlighted.
“If she had understood that she would be more at risk of a blood clot, I am sure it would have made a difference.
“From the moment a woman is pregnant to the end, we should be constantly talking about these things and making sure women know about them and are aware of them – because it could save a life.”
Paul, who now lives with their three youngsters, his new fiancee and her two youngsters in Purley, Surrey, additionally hopes Samantha’s story will assist different girls.
He mentioned: “Our whole life changed the moment Sam died.
“It breaks my heart knowing Betty is not going to know her mum.
“Sam was one-of-a-kind. She was such a fun, happy-go-lucky person who always put us and the kids first.
“Family meant everything to her.
“We can’t change what happened but if we can make people aware of it or know what to look for and save one person, then it will help save lives.”
Jane Dickson, chief of nursing and midwifery at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, mentioned: “I extend my heartfelt condolences to Samantha’s family. Raising awareness of the risks of pulmonary embolism is an important part of care during pregnancy.
“At the trust, we provide detailed information leaflets for patients, document risk assessments in their notes and where appropriate, share video guidance for administering medication after they leave our care.”
Professor Beverley Hunt, one of many main consultants on thrombosis and purchased bleeding issues, mentioned: “Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a blood clot, usually from the veins of the legs, also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), breaks off and travels to the lungs.
“Pregnant women are at increased risk of PE, and although rare, is a leading cause of death in pregnancy and postpartum.”
Professor Hunt continued: “This is because during pregnancy, a woman’s blood gets more sticky, possibly this happens to lessen blood loss during delivery. This stickiness continues after delivery and settles by about six weeks after giving birth.
“Pregnant women also experience less blood flow in the leg veins because the blood vessels around the pelvis are pressed upon by the growing uterus and the veins enlarge during pregnancy. We also know immobility is a major risk factor for clots.
“If prevention with small doses of heparin are used in women at high risk, then the risk of blood clots can be reduced, so education and accurate assessment of risk can result in substantial benefits.
“Tragically for Samantha, this was not the case. While this may not be classed as a ‘common’ complication of pregnancy, cases like Samantha’s highlight the need for education about the risk of blood clotting to women who are pregnant or have just given birth.”
Symptoms of a PE embody:
– Feeling very unwell or collapsing– Sudden unexplained issue in respiratory– Tightness within the chest or chest ache– Coughing up blood
You ought to search assist instantly when you expertise any of those signs.
Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis:
– Pain, swelling and tenderness in a single leg, normally behind your decrease leg (calf). The ache could also be worse if you stroll.– A heavy ache or heat pores and skin within the affected space– Red pores and skin, notably behind your leg beneath the knee
Call your GP, midwife or 111 instantly you probably have any of those signs.
Call 999 instantly you probably have sudden issue respiratory, have ache or tightness in your chest or higher again or are coughing blood.
For extra details about thrombosis, please go to: www.worldthrombosisday.org/.
Source: www.impartial.co.uk