Mum dies after finding out she was having stroke at GP check-up
An “amazing” mum died after discovering she was having a stroke while having a regular checkup with her GP.
Henrietta Sim, known as Rietta, was having a routine appointment for her diabetes when she received the surprise diagnosis.
The 51-year-old from Cumnock had been suffering shortness of breath, fatigue, headaches and weakness in her arms when she was sent for scans at Crosshouse Hospital before the first lockdown started last year.
She lost most movement in her legs and was battling poor health as she tried to recover, but sadly died on January 6 from heart failure.
Now her daughter Carrie Sim, 24, is begging others to take stroke symptoms seriously and seek help if appropriate.
Carrie said: “My mum was a very cheery person, she was so family orientated.
“Even with her poor health she still put everyone else first.
“She found out she was having a stroke after going to the doctors for a routine checkup for her diabetes.
“That is when we realised strokes can happen at any time with very little symptoms.
“She didn’t have the normal noticeable symptoms, but the shortness of breath, very tired, headaches [and] weakness in her arms are all symptoms, and was very lucky that the doctors caught it in time and got her to hospital for scans and into the stroke ward.”
Rietta was sent from her GP office at Tanyard Medical Practice, Cumnock, to Kilmarnock’s Crosshouse Hospital in March 2020 for tests.
She then spent lockdown trying to recover at home with her husband Derek but her conditions quickly deteriorated.
She had been feeling ‘much better’ days before she died suddenly, leaving her family crushed.
Carrie added: “Losing a parent...you really can’t prepare for that, but with the help from my family and friends they have been our absolute rocks and got myself and dad to where we are today.
“I was still staying at home, but was renovating my own home at the same time; sometimes I do regret being away all the time.
“My mum had been getting so much better, so much more movement and strength but one day I left for work [and it was] not even an hour when my dad and auntie phoned to say I had to come home.
“Not even 10 minutes later they phoned to say the worst news ever, that she had passed.
“With my mum’s heart attack at the end, it was silent which just means it was really quick
and she wouldn’t have felt much which does give us a little comfort at this horrible time.
“Going through a stroke or heart attack with someone can be frustrating and very draining
but you have to stay strong for the person.
“That will help them through their recovery.”
Not even 10 minutes later they phoned to say the worst news ever, that she had passed.