Memorial Fund for Samuel Blackshaw

Sam Blackshaw, died aged 28. Father of three and much loved husband, son, brother and friend.

 

Sam was a gamekeeper on a Northamptonshire Estate, that he lived on from the age of 3, until tragically he was taken from us on the 19th March 2021. He had always loved the countryside and was so happy to become a gamekeeper on the estate he had grown up on in 2011, a job he adored.

 

He met his wife, Natalie, in 2014 and in 2016 their first child, Alfie was born. Sam and Natalie married in April 2017 and in 2018 Ava arrived. Family meant everything to Sam, he had the biggest heart, he was a wonderful daddy and loved nothing more than taking the children to work with him, teaching them about nature and the countryside. In the summer of 2020, baby no 3 was on the way. The future was looking good but sadly that future was to be snatched away from their family.

 

Sam complained of terrible headaches on the Thursday, by Monday he was starting to feel better but on the Tuesday morning he was confused and agitated, he was taken to hospital. He deteriorated quickly and by the end of the day he couldn’t walk, talk and didn’t recognise his own mum. His family never got to see him conscious again. He was sedated and then had to be placed in an induced coma after suffering constant seizures. He was taken to Addenbrookes Neuro Critical Care unit 10 days later and had an exhaustive amount of tests to try and find a cause for his illness but no cause was found.

 

The doctors tried many treatments to try and control the seizures but nothing worked, we were told he had NORSE syndrome (New Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus) - a very rare condition. After 130 days in a coma we were told there was nothing more the doctors could do for Sam. Due to Covid restrictions his family and friends had not been able to be with him during his time in hospital, which was devastating for everyone.

 

Sam’s life support was switched off on the 19th March 2021, he was only 28 years old, with his wife, parents and 3 week old baby Arlo by his side. The family are all still struggling to cope with the devastating loss of Sam.

 

Now, a year on, Natalie and the children have to leave the tied cottage which was provided with Sam’s job. As close friends to the family we want to try and support in as many ways as we can. Due to this we have set up this gofundme page to help Natalie with settling into a new home for her and the children and to support Alfie, Ava and Arlo through life without their Daddy.

 

We would like to thank you for reading Sam’s story and for any help you are able to give, it is greatly appreciated.