BOYS BATTLE IN VAIN TO REVIVE MUM
Family’s heartbreak as Michelle dies days after she buried her mother
Two brave Blantyre boys this week told how they battled in vain to save their mum’s life after they found her unconscious in bed.
Popular mum-of-two Michelle O’donnell died suddenly in the early hours of last Thursday — just days after she buried her own mum, Flora O’donnell (75).
The 44-year-old’s griefstricken sons Michael (21) and Christopher (13) this week spoke about how they tried to save their mum, who they described as someone who “always looked after them”.
Floods of tributes have poured in for Michelle from across the community with the family being “overwhelmed” by the messages of support they have received since Michelle’s passing.
Two brave Blantyre boys this week told how they battled in vain to save their mum’s life after they found her unconscious in bed.
Popular mum-of-two Michelle O’donnell died suddenly in the early hours of last Thursday – just days after she buried her own mum, Flora O’donnell (75).
The 44-year-old’s grief-stricken sons Michael (21) and Christopher (13) this week spoke about how they tried to save their mum.
Michael said: “We realised mum had stopped breathing and we called for the ambulance straight away.
“We each took a turn to give mum CPR until the paramedics arrived, which was about five minutes later and then they took over.”
However by the time Michelle was taken to hospital, she had passed away. The family were this week awaiting the results of Michelle’s post mortem.
The double tragedy has hit the family hard, after they laid Flora to rest. She passed away on October 18 after a short illness in hospital.
Michael and Christopher were struggling to deal with the loss of their much-loved grandmother who was buried on Saturday, October 28, and were then dealt the huge blow of losing their mum last Thursday, November 2
The boys described their mum as “the big chief of the house, who always looked after them”.
They said their mum was “always happy and had a smile on her face”and she had “lots of friends and loved a laugh”.
Michelle’s older sister Lorraine Mcguire, also of Blantyre, described her sister as “larger than life”.
She said: “We still can’t take in what’s happened, with my mum passing away quickly in the hospital and now this.
“Michelle, although she was my younger sister, she acted more like my older sister.
“She was all about her family and was always there for them. We would all love to meet up in my mum’s house together with the children.
“We are a very close family and have always been there for each other.
“Michelle ran a tight ship in her house but absolutely loved her boys to bits and would do anything for them.”
Michelle and her sister Lorraine worked for a number of years in the town’s Keystore shop in Auchinraith Road, before Michelle moved on to take up a career as a carer and worked in a various nursing homes throughout the county.
Tributes have flooded in for Michelle and the family say they have received numerous messages of sympathy.
A High Blantyre florist, Flowers To Go, also carried out can collections in the area to help the family with funeral costs.
And a crowdfunding page was also set up by Blantyre Councillor Mo Razzaq for the family.
He said: “Michelle was a lovely, cheery person, and was known and liked by many in Blantyre. I think the whole community has been left devastated for the family.
“This has been a double tragedy for them, as they grieve for a grandmother and now they have lost a mother.
“As soon as the Blantyre community heard of the sad news they wanted to give something back and help the family where they could financially.”
The family said that the “overwhelming” messages of support from the community are helping them through this difficult time.
Lorraine added: “No words can describe how thankful we are to everyone who has either donated or sent a message. We can’t believe the support from everyone.
“Michelle and my mum both touched a lot of lives and we can’t thank people enough for helping us through this terrible time.”
Michelle’s funeral service will take place on Saturday, November 11, at 10am at St Joseph’s Church, Blantyre.