Mum awarded for work in daughter’s memory
A GRIEF-STRICKEN mum has been given an award for her incredible fundraising efforts in memory of her daughter who died suddenly from a blood clot.
Abi French, from Claybrooke Magna, died aged 22 in February 2015, just 10 weeks after she married husband James and five days after her birthday.
She first got sick about a month before her 18th birthday and was taken to Glenfield Hospital with breathing problems.
Doctors fought to save her from a blood clot in her lungs and had to revive her twice after she suffered a double cardiac arrest.
Paramedics told her she was a “timebomb” and blood-thinning drugs would not be able to prevent future clots.
A year later, Abi gave birth to a stillborn daughter, named Ruby, and doctors believe the medication had led to the baby’s death in the womb.
On February 18 last year, Abi was having dinner with her husband when she collapsed suddenly. A blood clot had travelled from her hip to her heart and she died at 3am the following day.
She is buried with Ruby at Claybrooke Parva church cemetery.The reason for Abi’s repeated clotting episodes was never discovered.
Her mum, Sarah Edwards, 46, decided to use her agony to raise as much awareness as possible of blood clots, known as thrombosis
She has worked tirelessly with the help of her family to raise £11,500 for Thrombosis UK, as well as thousands of pounds for Glenfield Hospital.
Sarah has now been recognised for her incredible charity efforts and was given the Thrombosis UK Fundraisers Award.
Jo Jerrome, CEO at Thrombosis UK, said: “We are indebted to Sarah and her family for her support. Not only does her fundraising help the charity, but everyone joining Sarah’s events and hearing of them also gains a little more awareness and understanding of thrombosis.
“It is critical that everyone understand the signs and symptoms of this life threatening condition so that more lives can be saved and many thrombotic events prevented.”
The award is supported by Andrew Gwynne MP and TV pre- senter Lynn Faulds Wood, who have both suffered from blood clots.
Sarah’s parents, Janet and Keith Brown, have also helped to raise lots of money for the charity and they collected the award on her behalf at an event in London.
Donations continue to flood in and the family is organising a series of future projects, with further details to be announced soon.
Keith is hoping to open a Thrombosis UK shop in Leicestershire soon and is looking for a suitable locations, sponsors or willing landlords.
He said: “Abi was a lovely girl, she enjoyed helping others and people really appreciated her.
“She didn’t deserve what happened to her and we just want to raise as much money as possible to prevent other families from going through the heartbreak we have.
“We want to open a charity shop so we can continue to raise as funds for Thrombosis UK.”
If anyone can help, call Keith on Hinckley 202665.