We are cursed
Couple’s heartbreak as two of their children ‘kill themselves’ 3 years after pregnant sister dies
FOR any family, losing one child would be devastating enough.
But Keith and Elaine Llewellyn have suffered the unimaginable pain of losing three of their children in just three years.
The mourning couple have ‘ cancelled Christmas’ as they prepare for two funerals within weeks.
Mrs Llewellyn, 56, said: ‘We are just numb with shock – my friends are saying that I am cursed by bad luck. It has been one devastating blow after another, we can’t take any more.’
Before the tragedies, the staff nurse and her window fitter husband were a ‘big happy family’ from Bridgend, South Wales.
But in 2014, Mrs Llewellyn’s daughter Amy, 26, died of a mystery illness while she was three-and-a-half months pregnant with her third child.
She suffered total organ failure and her unborn son Michael died while she was in intensive care.
Mrs Llewellyn said: ‘ They said it was natural causes [at the inquest]. But we still don’t really know how she died.’
The family were still coming to terms with her death when they became concerned about Mrs Llewellyn’s daughter Jessica Cowdery, 26, who was battling bipolar disorder.
Tragically, on November 22, the day she was found dead, her mother had managed to get her specialist help.
Mrs Llewellyn said: ‘I was ringing her that morning to tell her the good news but she wasn’t picking up.
‘A friend went to check on her and found her unresponsive on the bed.’
An inquest is due to be held over her suspected suicide. Her sudden death had a catastrophic effect on the whole family, particularly on Mr Llewellyn’s son David, 25, who had grown up with Miss Cowdery since they were both children. Mrs Llewellyn said: ‘He was devastated when Jessica took her own life. He was sobbing down the phone to me the night before he died.’ Just two weeks after Miss Cowdery died, David, a fatherof-one, was himself found dead at his bedsit in Bridgend. Police are still investigating but the Llewellyns have been told it is a suspected suicide. Mrs Llewellyn said: ‘I am in a state of disbelief, I keep thinking this is happening to someone else. We won’t be having a Christmas this year – I just couldn’t face it.’ The family held a funeral for Miss Cowdery last week, and are now preparing for David’s on Monday. The couple is being supported by Mrs Llewellyn’s four other children, Peri, 38, Carl, 36, Hannah, 29 and Bethan, 24, and their 13 grandchildren. For confidential support, go to www.samaritans.org or call the Samaritans on 116123.