A MOTHER and daughter have died within days of each other following a shocking turn of events.
Their family have been left with unexpected funeral bills and terrible grief.
Last month, Carla Gregory, a 60-year-old school dinner lady, travelled to her home in Cardiff when her mother, Donna Gregory, was admitted to hospital for a suspected infection.
Donna, a retired NHS nurse, sadly died at Llandough Hospital aged 79 on January 11.
While making arrangements for her mother’s funeral, Carla began to suffer with flu-like symptoms.
She had recently undergone surgery to replace the batteries in her fitted defibrillator due to a previously diagnosed condition of Acute Cardiomyopathy.
Tragically, just days after Donna’s death, Carla became severely ill and was hospitalised at University Hospital of Wales.
Due to various medical complications Carla suffered a stroke, blood clots and suspected lung cancer before she passed away less than two weeks after her mum.
Carla’s daughter, Shannon Mason, 30, has shared how devastated she and her siblings are at the shocking loss of both their mother and grandmother in such quick succession.
In a fundraising post on GoFundMe, Shannon and her siblings, Amber,34, and Liam, 28 have asked for donations for the funeral costs of her mum and grandma.
Any remaining money to be donated to The British Heart Foundation and Age UK charities.
Shannon explained: “We were not prepared for this emotionally or financially and it has been very upsetting to find that even after our grandmothers lifetime of work for the NHS, and our mothers long lived career for Cardiff Council there is little to no government funding or help available towards funeral costs.”
As a civil servant who is on maternity leave, Shannon and her sister Amber, a full time mum to two children and brother Liam, a manager in Nando’s, are struggling to pay for two funerals so suddenly.
“Mum was full of life and positive in everything she did,” Shannon said in the fundraising post.
“Alongside being a mother, Carla worked for Cardiff Council at different schools for a number of years and was cherished dearly by many colleagues and students of her workplaces.”
Carla was forced to stop working at 48 following her Acute Cardiomyopathy diagnosis, but continued to live a full and happy life.
“She loved shopping and was happiest when she’d found a bargain, especially on Vinted or at a boot sale,” Shannon added.
“In her spare time she spent hours creating beautiful diamond art pieces for friends and family, gifts that many of us will treasure forever.
“She absolutely adored her puppy Eric, and above all, she was a loving, caring, and devoted mum who always put her children first.”
So far, they have raised nearly £4,000 and hope to raise £6,000 in total.
To donate, you can follow think link to the donations page.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported us during this difficult time it’s helping us more than you could imagine,” Shannon wrote.
