A young Scots mum has tragically died after a '10 day headache' resulted in a catastrophic bleed on the brain. Siobhan McDermid, from Edinburgh, passed away on April 29 after medics discovered a thrombotic blood clot near her ear.
The 36-year-old had been complaining of a sore head and neck for several days but was sent home from A&E with painkillers. The mum-of-one’s condition continued to get worse as she began vomiting and experiencing blurred vision.
She was rushed to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh by ambulance and transferred to the ICU where medics attempted to break up the clot with blood thinning medication as surgery wasn’t an option due to its tricky location.
But Siobhan then suffered a major bleed and was placed on life support before passing away with her family and beloved son Zach, five, by her side.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, her aunty Kay, 58, explained: “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 sent 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'.
“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."
Siobhan 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 added: “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 was only 36. She hadn't sorted out any life insurance, it's not something any of us expected to happen.
“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. Her pals decided to set up 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." 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."
You can donate to help Siobhan's family at GoFundMe.
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