Tragic new mum was ‘so special’

Reporter: MARINA BERRY
Date published: 02 March 2010


Allison’s swine flu horror

FAMILY and friends are preparing to bid an emotional farewell to a tragic young mum who died from swine flu only weeks after giving birth.

Allison McCaffery had everything to live for. Tomorrow, loved ones will see her laid to rest at St Paul’s Church, Royton — the scene of her wedding four years ago.

Allison and husband, Gareth, enjoyed a whirlwind of unforgettable romance before they decided to start a family.

The 26-year-old gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Jacob, by emergency Caesarean section days after she fell victim to flu-like symptoms.

He was born on January 8 at the Royal Oldham Hospital. The following day, doctors confirmed to the family Allison had swine flu.

Allison’s condition continued to deteriorate and she developed pneumonia. She was heavily sedated and put on a ventilator when she became unable to breathe.

Her consultant tracked down a special ECMO machine, which oxygenates the blood, at the Royal Brampton Hospital in Chelsea. The young mum was transferred by ambulance. After six weeks of keeping a bedside vigil, Gareth along with Allison’s parents Julie and David Astley, were told her organs had begun to fail. She’d lost her fight for life.

Baby Jacob was being cared for back at the young couple’s home in Charles Street, Royton, by Gareth’s parents, Audrey and Alan.

The baby’s father took over, and with the help of both sets of grandparents, is trying to come to terms with the loss of his wife,

He said: “I haven’t decided what to do yet, whether to go back to work full-time or part-time, but I’ll be caring for Jacob the way Allison wanted.

“I’ll take him to mother and baby classes as she had planned because she wanted him to be a social baby.”

The young mum shared a precious few hours with her son, cuddled, fed and dressed him — in his first monkey outfit — before she was sedated.

Gareth added: “She was mad about monkeys. She might only have had 26 years, but she packed everything into them and definitely enjoyed life.”

Gareth, a credit controller at Royton food delivery firm 3663, said: “Allison knew she was going to sleep for a bit to get better. The doctors were hoping she would recover after two weeks.”

He said his wife enjoyed her job in the Lifelong Learning Service at the Oakbank Centre, Chadderton, because of the daily contact it gave her with lots of people. The couple both went to North Chadderton School and became an item when they were 19. Allison’s parents live on Thorpe Farm estate, Royton.

Her mother said: “We have had so many cards saying it was an absolute honour to know her and how privileged they felt to have been part of her life.

“She was the life and soul of every gathering. It makes us proud to know other people loved her as much as we did and felt she was so special.

“Allison was my best friend, we haven’t got many serious photographs of her, she was always laughing.”

Allison’s father David said: “She had a gift for being able to communicate with everyone, it didn’t matter who they were, how old they were, or where they were from, she got on with everyone. She just loved people.

“She loved her job so much, meeting different people all the time and helping them.”

Allison had two brothers.

Michael (24), who was flown home by the RAF Regiment from Afghanistan within hours of receiving a call from his father after his sister took a turn for the worse in hospital. He will stay in Royton until after the funeral.

Aaron (20) is an electrician for Manchester firm, ERS Electrical. Their mother said: “He was very proud of his big sister.”

Nursing Jacob, she added: “Allison had everything planned, she had all his clothes and toys ready and had decorated the nursery. Jacob is our first grandchild, but this has taken the edge off it.

“Going to the Royal Brampton Hospital was Allison’s last chance and everyone was fantastic not just with her, but with us as well.”

She had two nurses with her round-the-clock, seven days a week, for the most of her six weeks there.

Her mother said: “She was in the very best place, and I want to say a big thank-you to all the staff for their efforts.”

Allison’s funeral service will take place at 11.15am tomorrow where anyone who knew her is welcome to attend, followed by a private family burial.