Sarah Louise Kelly

Sarah was taken to the intensive care unit on the 27 December 2000 after her heart had stopped and she was on a life support machine until she slipped away on the 30 December 2000, aged 23 years. We had celebrated a family Christmas with her spending the day with us on Boxing Day along with her daugher, Louise. We received a telephone call in the early hours of the morning to say she had been admitted into hospital. She did suffer from asthma attacks and was also an insulin dependent diabetic and had been in hospital a few times prior to her death. It did not occur to any of us that this was any different, it was only when we arrived at the hospital that we realised how serious the situation was. We were told later that day that Sarah had suffered severe brain damage and she would not survive, if she had she would have been left "a cabbage". It was then the fear struck me and I realised I was about to lose my daughter. The only consolation we had, looking back, is that we had the chance to say goodbye to her, no-one knew if she could hear but, nevertheless, we all said our goodbyes. I promised Sarah I would look after her daugther, Louise, and never let her forget her mum. Seven years on we still talk about her even though we all miss her every day and always will. Sarah was a very caring person, her job was caring for old people, a job she loved. She was very bright and loved life and loved Louise very much, she was a good mum. She loved music and loved to dance, but unfortunately, she took the wrong path in life and became involved with the wrong people, who contributed to her untimely death. Sarah did have some good friends. Her best and dear friend was Melinda, who misses her very much. Sarah has a sister, Faye, who was 15 at the time, studying for her GCSE exams. She was remarkably strong and still is. Sarah would have been proud of her, she has just qualified at University to become a teacher. Sarah also has a brother, Tom who is the same age as Louise, they are both 11 and go up to High School this summer. She would have been very proud of them also. I miss and think about her every single day and would do anything to have her back if only for one second, to tell her how much I loved her and tell her she is the brightest star in the sky and missed by all who loved her.