Devastated
SHE was a “fun loving” young mum-oftwo who lived for her children.
But now the family of Kara Hogland have spoken of their devastation at her sudden death at the age of just 29.
Kara, from Wallsend, complained of migraines for six weeks and paid several visits to her GP and accident and emergency.
The care worker worried the gastric cancer she successfully battled five years ago had returned.
Her worst fears were confirmed when blood tests and scans at Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington revealed she had bone cancer.
Medics warned she might not have long to live, and she passed away just eight days later.
Grieving sister Kayleigh Finnigan says Kara’s family are still reeling from the sheer speed of her decline, and are trying to remain strong for 11-year-old Luke and six-year-old Abbi.
She said: “It’s hard for us all to process. It’s still quite hard to believe.
“Me and Kara were so close, I can’t even put it into words.
“We’re taking it day by day, and trying to focus on the kids and being strong for them to get through it.
“Everyone is devastated. There are no words. Especially being so close to Christmas, it’s really hard.”
Kara had three quarters of her stomach removed at the age of 24 in her fight against gastric cancer.
The young mum had a history of suffering migraines, which meant her recent symptoms were initially not considered serious.
But after more than a month of complaining, tests were carried out after her latest visit to A&E and she was diagnosed with bone cancer on November 16.
Customer service representative Kayleigh drove her sister back home that night.
She said: “Kara was saying she didn’t feel like she had cancer.
“She was ill while on the phone to me the next day. It was heartbreaking hearing her in that much pain.
“I called for 111 and she was taken to hospital. Unfortunately she didn’t come back out.”
Kayleigh was due to visit Kara on the afternoon of November 24, but did not receive the usual morning phone call from her sister.
The hospital assured Kayleigh her sister was sleeping off a severe migraine, but rang back at 1pm saying her condition had deteriorated severely.
She said: “It happened so fast, there was absolutely no warning.
“I got there within the hour but she had passed away. I was literally minutes too late.”
Kara passed away with her partner Karl Thomson by her side.
The family are still waiting to hear whether her cancer was a metastasis – related to her first tumour – or not.
Karaoke fan Kara enjoyed meals out and socialising with family and friends, and doted on her children.
Kayleigh, 32, said: “She was really funloving, she would do anything for anyone.
“Her kids Luke and Abbi were just her
whole world. They came first for her in everything. They seem to be sleeping OK and have gone back to school.
“Luke is starting to ask a lot of questions, and Abbi still talks about her mum and then gets upset thinking they are doing something together.
“But they are surrounded by family and we’re trying to keep things as normal as possible.”
Loved ones will bid their final goodbyes to Kara at a service at Tynemouth Crematorium on Friday.
Reeling from their unexpected loss, Kayleigh has set up a Gofundme page in an attempt to provide Kara’s children with financial stability.
The young mum was unable to secure life insurance after her first cancer battle, and the speed of her decline meant she was unable to put any plans in place.
Kayleigh added: “We didn’t expect her to go that quickly. She’d started a bit of Christmas shopping but she hadn’t finished.
“We’re thinking of the kids – we know it’s going to be such a hard Christmas for them.”
More than £5,200 has been raised in a matter of days, and Kayleigh says the response has been “overwhelming”.
She finished: “Kara was much-loved, and this shows just how loved she was.”
To read more about Kara’s story and donate, visit her Gofundme page.