Testimonies

On 19 September 1999 my husband Denis died suddenly at the age of just 43. I was away for the weekend for my birthday and what started as a wonderful weekend turned into the blackest most awful time of my life. I was only 41 and was left on my own with 3 children aged 17, 14 and 11.

I couldn't understand how my husband, who was fit, a black belt in karate, played five a side football every Saturday morning and was a keen fly fisherman died so suddenly. On the death certificate it had "unknown cause". I was left with so much guilt of not being there for him, not saying goodbye and thinking it was all a bad dream and I would wake up and everything would be like it was before.

About 8 weeks after Denis's death I had a meeting with the Coroner who informed me that my husband had died from Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome. I had never heard of this illness and when it was explained to me I sat there in disbelief. Denis had most probably contracted HUS through his fly fishing. He had been away on a tournament the week before he died.

Since Denis's death I have researched a lot about HUS and I did not realise how the beauty of the countryside can hold such potential dangers.

It is now 6 years since that black Sunday morning. It has taken my family and myself a long time to accept Denis's death and think about future plans. Our children are now 24, 21 and l7 years, and they have turned out to be my three closest and best friends. I know Denis would be so very proud of them. Our lives will never be the same again but he is always in our thoughts and will be in our hearts and souls for every more.