Mum and baby heartbreak

Cath and her daughter Isla in happier times

A POPULAR teacher and amazing mother has died just hours after her unborn baby.

Cath Moston, of Shaw, was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital at 37 weeks pregnant after becoming unwell at Middleton Technology School, where she was head of science.

Doctors were unable to save the 35 year old and her baby girl — for whom the name Esther Grace had already been chosen. Cath also had a three-year-old daughter, Isla.

Devastated husband Matt, a merchandising manager for Asda, said: “She was a devoted mother and loving wife. She was so enthusiastic, bubbly, caring and just loved life.

“She was my rock. It’s just so hard, I don’t know how I’m going to cope. I don’t feel like I can but I suppose we will have to. She kept us all together. She was an amazing mum to Isla.

“She loved being a mum. She left no stone unturned working out how to get the best for Isla. She organised our whole lives.”

Cath, who was still working, had been told her baby was in a breach position and had an appointment at the hospital for yesterday.

But she suffered a sudden abdominal pain while at school on Wednesday morning. Her midwife told her to go home and rest but the pain worsened and she was advised to go to hospital immediately.

Her father Peter Lee phoned an ambulance but Cath stopped breathing on the way

When the family arrived at hospital they were told the unborn baby had died earlier in the day — and at 5pm heard that Cath too had passed away from complications.

Cath and Matt, who married in October 2003 had spent time the weekend before her death with family and friends.

“She was looking like a ray of health and she was just so excited about the baby,” said Matt.

“This has been so sudden. It’s still so raw, such a shock, we just can’t believe she’s not here any more.”

“Isla is OK but we’ve told her mummy is with the angels. It’s not going to sink in for a while.”

Allison Crompton, head at Middleton Technology School, said: “Cath was a brilliant teacher and colleague who was extremely well regarded professionally and well liked by everyone and will be greatly and sadly missed.”