An Edinburgh mum has tragically passed away leaving her five-year-old son and a heartbroken family.
Siobhan McDermid, from Gilmerton, died suddenly on April 29 after an unforeseen fatal illness. After complaining of a sore head and neck pain, it was discovered the 36-year-old had a blood clot near her ear.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, her Aunty Kay, 58, explained how much of a shock it was to the whole family.
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Kay Wright said: "Me and Siobhan always had a special relationship, I whispered in her ear to let her know. She was so creative, feisty, loved makeup, always had her nails done and was so excited about the future."
She added: "She was only 36. She hadn't sorted out any life insurance, it's not something any of us expected to happen. About 10 days ago, she went to A&E with a sore head and neck to the extent it was making her feel sick. They just her away with painkillers, thinking it was muscular. By Saturday (April 22), she was being sick and her vision was blurred.
"She was telling her son, Zach, that she wasn't feeling well. Her mum went round and Zach told his Granny, 'Mummy can't see me'."
Siobhan's mum then phoned an ambulance and she was put into the ICU at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where they found a thrombotic blood clot. However, the family was told that due to the location, it was complex and medics would not be able to operate.
Kay continued: "She was given blood thinning medication and by Tuesday, it looked like she was turning a wee corner. She was trying to communicate and spell letters out with her hands. She was worried about her studies."
The 36-year-old was enjoying her criminology course at the Open University and had an assignment due, which Kay secured an extension for in the hope that her niece would get better.
However by mid-morning on Wednesday, she had a catastrophic bleed to the brain and was put on life support on Thursday.
Kay continued: "She touched so many people's lives and she didn't even realise. When I called her friends to let them know she wasn't going to pull through, you should have seen that family room, it was a revolving door full of people!
"Her son Zac sat with her for hours too. He was so brave."
The whole family and Siobhan's closest friends pulled together to support each other, Kay expressed. Siobhan's pals decided to help the family out to create a fundraiser to help give their treasured friend the 'send-off she deserved'. If they go over the target, they have decided the rest of the funds will go to set up a trust fund for Zach's education.
Her aunty added that the family decided Siobhan would have wanted to donate her organs and her kidneys were retrieved. Kay said: "That's two lives she was able to save."
You can donate to help Siobhan's family at GoFundMe.
Her family and friends added: "Siobhan was unexpectedly taken from us on April 29 2023 after an unforeseen fatal illness. Siobhan leaves behind a 5-year-old son, family and friends who love her dearly.
"Given that Siobhan was only 36 years old, the prospect of leaving this world so soon was never considered. If you could find it in your heart to contribute even the smallest amount to allow Siobhan's family and friends to give her the send-off that she truly deserves we would be eternally grateful."
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