Louise hand

Heartbreakingly, our amazing Sister/Daughter/Mother/Aunty Louise Hand unexpectedly passed away on the 1st of August 2023. On the evening of the 29th of July, 46-year-old Louise went to A&E with an earache, even apologising to the staff at the hospital upon her arrival for wasting their time. After only a short while there, her condition began to drastically and rapidly spiral out of control, resulting in her becoming delirious and confused, not knowing where she was, or even who she was. 

 

After being taken into resuscitation at the hospital and having an emergency scan of her brain, it was discovered by the doctors at Barnsley Hospital that her brain was swelling and that the only option for our wonderful and caring Louise was to be induced into a coma to try and relieve some of the stress in her head.  

 

Louise was then moved to the Intensive Care Unit and hooked up to life support machines that were used to breathe for her and keep her alive. Upon hearing the news, all of Louise's family rushed to be by her side and pray for her to recover. 

 

Unfortunately, whilst in the ICU, to the horror of everyone, Louise did not react to any of the antibiotics given to her or the tests conducted on her brain by the doctors. Her condition only continued to deteriorate dramatically. After further scans and tests, it was discovered that Louise had a rare and fatal case of meningitis that only a small number of people in the UK have known to survive.  

 

After being in a coma for only 3 days, the doctors delivered the cruellest news to us that no family ever wants to hear: Louise had lost most of her brain function and would be unable to wake up from her medically induced sleep. The decision was then made by the hospital that Louise’s machines would be turned off and that we would lose not only an amazing, caring and generous friend but a huge and irreplaceable part of our family. 

 

Louise was such a beautiful soul and was known to us and her friends for always being the one to light up any room she was in, and being a shoulder to cry on when anyone needed it. We are all dealing with a lot of trauma from her death and seeing her in such a terrible state. As a family, we are inconsolable from losing our Louise at such a young age and with no pre-warning or existing illnesses. We all miss her so dearly and profoundly. Our lives, and anyone that knew Louise will never be the same again without her here. 

 

Through no fault of her own, Louise sorrowfully left behind Charlie, her 18-year-old daughter and all of us, her heartbroken family. Due to the completely unexpected nature of Louise’s death, and her not having a life insurance policy or a funeral plan set up prior to her death, the responsibility of planning and paying for Louise’s funeral has been left to her distraught daughter and Louise’s Next of Kin, Charlie. As a family, we have all agreed that it should not be Charlie’s responsibility to undertake this role as the experience has been traumatising enough already for her. 

 

As a family, we have all agreed to contribute as much as possible to also help cover these costs and relieve the pressure and stress put on Charlie at this awful time. Regretfully and sorrowfully, due to the extortionate costs of a funeral, as well as living in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis, we are now open to accepting any donations via this to help put towards some of the costs of Louise’s funeral. We understand that everyone is struggling in the current climate and will gratefully accept any donation, however big or small from anyone that is generous enough to do so. Please do not feel pressured into donating, as a family we all completely understand if you’re unable to give to our cause and will still give our all to give Louise the best send-off possible, as she deserves. 

 

Thank you in advance to anyone who donates, we all are so appreciative of any help anyone can offer and feel distraught at the thought of even making this page.