The sister and sister-in-law of a young mum who passed away due to congenital heart failure have launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money in order to "give her the send off she deserves". Joanna-Jolene Dommett was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and congenital heart failure at just five years old and had been on medication from the age of eight due to her condition.
Joanna passed away at the age of 38, on October 5, leaving behind two children. Her sister, Samantha Dommett, told Bristol Live that she and her sister - who was lovingly referred to as JoJo - were often called 'twinnys' as they were so much alike and Samantha was there with Joanna at every hospital admission. She added: "We grew up in Bristol, with our mum and dad (Michael and Linda) and siblings Michael, Charlene and Nadine. She fought her whole life and defied the odds so many times."
Joanna's family were told in July that she was in heart failure and, on September 19, she was readmitted to hospital with low oxygen levels and a chest infection, which led to pneumonia. Samantha went on to say: "Doctors called us in on the Saturday and said she wouldn't make it through the night.
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"She battled and stayed with us beyond any doctor's expectation. We had so many amazing memories growing up, running free as children and going to 'bulldog bash' with dad, watching monster trucks and going on holidays with mum - so so many to list. We went through the good and bad together."
Joanna's sister-in-law, Bryony Smith, said Joanna had been "a big part of my life for 12 years as my sister-in-law" and added: "She was one of the closest people to me in my life along with Sam, and her death has impacted us all phenomenally. Even after nearly dying in July, she was still able to be pushed in a wheelchair to support me giving birth to my youngest child in August, who is named partially after her.
"She loved her nieces and nephews like they were her own children and I will never be able to say words great enough to thank her for everything she did for everybody. She was an inspirational woman - I've never met anyone with the strength she's shown over the years.
"Our lives will never be the same without her here. There are too many memories to choose from - we love you JoJo."
The two women have since launched a GoFundMe page in the hopes of raising £6,000 to give Joanna "a send off she deserves" which has, at time of writing, raised £1,586. You can find the fundraiser and donate here.
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