A mum ready to start a new life in Liverpool died after an operation she had waited two years for.
Carlene Kershaw felt she wasn't "taken seriously" by her GP or the NHS after her heart surgery was delayed on several occasions before taking place in June 2021. The 40-year-old mum-of-two's condition quickly deteriorated following a crucial operation and she died after forming a blood clot.
At an inquest into her death on Wednesday, May 11, coroner Lydia Brown said Ms Kershaw's untimely death was "an awful outcome" after a number of complications arose after a four-hour surgery. She had first reported breathlessness in August 2019 and later began suffering vomiting, headaches and a tight chest.
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But she wouldn't undergo heart surgery until nearly two years later - and despite the operation appearing positive at first, her condition quickly deteriorated. Her brother Mark Coffey said his outgoing sister "didn't expect to die" and had been joking with her mum ahead of the surgery at Hammersmith Hospital in June 2021.
Mr Coffey said: "She had just bought this house in Liverpool to start a new life, she never got to live in that house. It’s unbelievably awful and she just didn’t deserve that and neither did her children. Now they don’t have their mum, there’s been huge disruptions around loads of stuff, it’s been terrible."
Because of complications due to the pandemic Ms Kershaw had to wait nearly two years before she could have the surgery. By this point "surgery was the only real option and if it wasn't carried out fairly promptly, she was at risk of further deterioration", according to Ms Brown.
The four hour procedure eventually took place on June 7 and was initially believed to be successful with all signs pointing to an "excellent operation". But her position deteriorated and investigations showed she'd developed a coronary clot which had to be surgically removed. Following an emergency procedure, resuscitation efforts were tragically unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead.
Mr Coffey told MyLondon : "She had every possible scenario thrown at her, bearing in mind she was four foot 10, she was a small lady and to fight through all that. She actually spoke to my mum quite quickly after the operation but very, very briefly and never came round again.
"I mean it’s been horrendous, when she walked into the hospital, she joked with my mum not to be so morbid about not coming back, and she never did. It’s been unbelievably traumatic for us."
A statement read in court said Ms Kershaw was a "much-loved daughter, sister and auntie" who was a "very caring, loving person and parent who put her children first, a daughter and a son". The highly-regarded probation officer "always tried to see the good in people which made this occupation a perfect match for her".
She had been preparing to start a new life by moving to Liverpool with her two children.
The statement continued: "She graduated from university with two degrees, she was intelligent, sensitive and thoughtful. She was a strong, independent woman who loved life, spending time with her family and friends.
“She was a sociable, outgoing person who could make you laugh or cheer you up if you were having a bad day. She’d been invited to become a school governor at her children’s school, such was the respect she commanded in her local community. She enjoyed travelling and went to Camp America along the years, later taking her younger sister, providing camp support for underprivileged children.
“She was a good judge of character and would place her trust in people. She wasn’t the type of person to shy away from what was needed if it was for the greater good. She was nervous about the operation and told us that she’d been offered many reassurances that the procedure was routine, and with her age and general health, she’d be back to her normal self in no time. She was very much looking forward to this."
Ms Brown closed the inquest into Ms Kershaw's death returning a conclusion "this death was due to recognised complications of necessary surgical interventions".
A fundraiser was set up to give Carlene's children the same travel opportunities as their mum. You can donate here.
