Hilary Simpson was sure daughter Sarah was off work sick until she opened the bathroom door. Here, Hilary explains how her terrible discovery has left the family in shock. I never threw big, flash parties but I always loved celebrating my birthday with my family and a takeaway at home. That’s all I wanted for my 51st,
A popular family-run florist which is closing its doors after 36 years in business is to mark its farewell by raising more than £5,000 for charity. The Posy Bowl, which first opened in 1971, is moving out from its North Street home at the end of the year. And to mark the end of an era,
When Aldridge youngster Daniel Batchelor heard that a fundraising campaign in aid of his neighbour was under way he told his mother he wanted to help out by baking and then selling cakes. So the nine-year-old set up a stall at the end of his drive today to sell the cakes he has made at his
A vital hospital ventilation machine used on a student was not plugged in correctly and its safety alarm was broken, it has emerged. As the parents of Michelle Sinclair are forced to face life without their 'beautiful' daughter, an inquest into the 20-year-old's death has uncovered failings in her hospital care. The Northumbria University student collapsed
Emilie Bradshaw meets two mothers on a mission to spare other families the tragedy of losing a loved one to unexpected heart conditions. ‘If Andrew was here he would be urging people to be screened because if he had had the chance, I believe he’d still be alive today.” Ruth Lowe’s son Andrew Parr’s life was
Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) held a charity ball on Saturday, September 22 in memory of Kenneth Byrne. The ball was organised by his widow Karen and children Karrianne, Katie and Kieran Byrne. CRY is an independent charity that only survives thanks to the ongoing efforts of its supporters. It strives to raise awareness of cardiac risk
A loving dad is calling for all children to be given life-saving health checks after losing his 17-year-old daughter to a rare heart disorder. Kasia Ber died suddenly when a mobile phone alarm triggered an irregular heart rhythm, caused by the congenital condition Long QT Syndrome, in December 2005. Her devastated father John now wants electro
A self-confessed chatterbox is hoping to say ‘mum’ for 24 hours in memory of a little boy who died suddenly while playing rounders. Charlie Morettes died earlier this year after playing at Sutton-at-Hone C of E Primary School. The eight-year-old’s parents had been waiting to collect him outside when they got a message saying he had
Hungry staff joined in a roving feast and chomped for charity in memory of a fun-loving 18-year-old. Mark Marden, formerly of Huntington, in York, died of sudden heart failure earlier this year. His father, Russell Marden, works in the IT department at Norwich Union, and his colleagues decided to rally round and raise funds for the
Family and friends can never forget Stephen Ruggier – who would have turned 21 on October 24. They plan to release 21 balloons by his grave and make the day a celebration of his life – cut short by the adult form of cot death. The 17-year-old died in his sleep on October 4, 2004, and