‘We couldn’t believe that Rachel could become so gravely ill, so quickly’
JUST 24 hours after these pictures of Rachel Day were taken with her family on a “perfect” weekend – she was gravely ill.
After going to A&E with a high temperature, shortness of breath and vomiting, the bubbly 29-yearold was placed in an induced coma 12 hours later, and spent the next 10 days fighting for her life in intensive care.
But after multiple complications Rachel died, surrounded by her loving family.
Rachel, who is described by her devastated mum as being “popular, fun loving, kind-hearted with a unique personality who was adored by all her family and very many friends”, had contracted a deadly form of sepsis and went from being a very healthy young lady to gravely ill within a matter of hours.
Now, just two months after her death, the family and friends who loved her so much are “raising a Welsh army” as they battle to raise awareness and funds to inform more people about the disease.
“I had never even heard of sepsis until they said it in the hospital,” explained Rachel’s mum Bernie.
“Rachel was in perfect health, but she became very ill, very quickly and that has been such a shock.”
Rachel had taken a couple of days off from her job at Llanishen Leisure Centre to spend the break with those closest too her.
“Everything was perfect for her and she was really blooming,” said Bernie, from Lisvane.
“On the Tuesday before she died she had come to see me and her dad in work and we had coffee with my colleagues.
“Then, she had taken some time off that weekend and we had such a lovely time. She told me to be ready for 9.30am on the Friday as she wanted to spoil me and her nephew Morgan.
“She drove us to Cardiff Bay, we had breakfast and then went on a beautiful boat trip. Later that afternoon she met up with her friends and spend a perfect evening in Ogmore and barbecued on the beach.
“On the Saturday night we had a fantastic girls night out and she spent the perfect Sunday with friends on the balcony at her flat.”
But at 3.40am on the Monday morning, Rachel felt so ill she knocked on her flatmate’s door and said she thought she should go to A&E.
Her family understand that she was examined by a nurse but was told that there was a five and a half hour wait to see a doctor.
The first they knew anything was wrong was when Bernie phoned Rachel on Monday afternoon to ask her to go for a coffee.
“Rachel was screaming in pain, the sound was something I will never forget,” she says.
“I went straight round and she had severe cramps in both legs, was vomiting, short of breath, going blue around her mouth, and had a really high temperature. I rang 999 and a paramedic in a car arrived and called an ambulance. She was then taken to hospital an hour and a half later.
“When we got to the hospital, Rachel was taken straight to resus and placed in an induced coma and that was when we were first told she might not make it through the night.
“We just couldn’t believe that she could become so gravely ill, so quickly.”
After her death, Rachel’s family and friends decided early on that they wanted to do something to in her memory.
One of her great loves was dogs and to supplement her income Rachel worked for Friends For Pets Cardiff.
Colleagues Catherine Clarke and Sally Kirkpatrick approached Rachel’s family at the celebration of her life to suggest a fundraising day.
The idea moved quickly and Rachel’s Day is set to take place at Rhiwbina Recreation Club on Saturday, August 19.
There will be a dog walk around the local Caedelyn park, children’s activities, music and street food to raise money for the UK Sepsis Trust.
Bernie says: “The support we have had has been amazing. Rachel was very popular and her friends have been incredible. It showed how much she meant to people.
“The leisure centre closed as a mark of respect, they organised a tribute evening and set up a beautiful memorial in the foyer to her. When Catherine and Sally suggested having Rachel’s Day at the celebration of her life, it felt like the right thing to do.
“So many things have fallen into place, it is like Rachel is directing things. It all helps to make sure this beautiful girl is never forgotten. We are going to make it our mission to turn our devastation into a purpose.”
Catherine said: “It was just an idea at the start to try and raise some money in Rachel’s memory and it has grown and grown. Rachel loved dogs and was brilliant at her job, it just felt like the right thing to do and it is something we hope will become an annual event.”
To find out more about Rachel’s Day or to register for the dog walk, email cardiff@friendsforpets.co.uk