TO THE END SHAUNA LOOKED OUT FOR HER KIDS
Mum, 38, dies in her bed of heart condition
DEVOTED until the very end, brave mum Shauna Hebron played down her failing health to protect her beloved children.
But the 38-year-old lost her battle with the heart condition she had fought for five years and was found dead in her bed by her teenage son.
And today as her family start to come to terms with their loss, Shauna’s mum, Deborah, has paid tribute to her daughter who put her three children first right until the day she died.
The 56-year-old said: “It just happened so suddenly, it wasn’t expected. She just went to bed and didn’t wake up. But I think she had an idea it was coming. I think she knew more than she let on.”
Shauna’s life was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with a heart condition, which caused the muscle surrounding her heart to harden, five years ago.
The popular carer, from Gateshead, was forced to give up the job she loved and began to struggle with her health, becoming weak and losing around six stone.
But she battled the illness, determined to stay around for her children – Shannon, 21, Kyle, 18, and 15-year-old Cameron.
“When she was first diagnosed I don’t think she believed it,” said Deborah. “She hated it because she liked to be out and about, and for the last few years she hardly left the house. She just wanted to live her life the way she wanted. She had been healthy before that, and she just shrank to nothing.”
“She never seemed to let it get her down,” said Deborah. “She used to be a carer for the elderly, but she had to pack in work because she couldn’t get up and down the stairs. She was trying to further her career before all this happened. She worked really hard.”
Shauna, who lived with her children on the Leam Lane estate, became poorly after celebrating Shannon’s 21st birthday on Boxing Day. She had to use her oxygen mask and went to bed early, said her mum.
And Deborah now believes her daughter could have hidden her deteriorating health from her loved ones over Christmas. Shauna passed away in her sleep on December 30, and was found in bed by her youngest son Cameron. “Everything she did was for the kids,” said Deborah. “I had been there the night before she died and she seemed alright. We chatted for a few minutes and that was the last I had seen of her. She never really mentioned it, but I know just before Christmas she was going to sort out life insurance.”
Shauna also leaves her younger brothers Andrew and Tony and stepdad Michael.
Since her death the family have been inundated with messages of support from Shauna’s many friends. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for her funeral.
“From what I can gather from her friends she was fantastic. She would help anyone,” said Deborah. “Her door was always open. She had lots of friends. I was quite shocked. I didn’t realise how many people she did help. She was just happy-go-lucky. She loved her life until she took bad, but even then she struggled through it.”
Shauna’s funeral will be held at Saltwell Crematorium at 1pm on Monday, January 25.
She just went to bed and didn’t wake up. But I think she had an idea it was coming.
Mum Deborah