Birmingham mother-of-two death leaves parents shattered
Sep 15 2009 by Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail
PARENTS of a Birmingham mother-of-two who died after a routine varicose vein operation while taking a contraceptive pill have opened their hearts about how the sudden death shattered their lives and devastated her two young sons.
Devoted mum Amanda Hopkins was discovered dead on the bathroom floor by her three and six-year-old children Bradley and Brendan at their home in Ralphs Meadow, Woodgate Valley, just ten days after minor surgery at Selly Oak Hospital because of a deadly blood clot in the lungs.
Despite counselling, both youngsters and their father and Amanda’s childhood sweetheart, Steven Stokes, are finding it difficult to cope with the traumatic experience.
Amanda’s grief-stricken mother Margaret suffered a nervous breakdown and withdrew from all family including her beloved grandchildren, shutting herself away in the bedroom for seven months.
Mum Margaret, from Alwood Gardens, Woodgate, said: “We couldn’t explain to the boys where their mummy had gone. I told them that when they looked up at the sky and saw a bright star, that was their mother looking over them.
“At the funeral, the little one said: ‘If it’s mummy’s funeral, why is she in a box?’. That started everyone off crying.”
The 51-year-old mother added: “It’s been nearly two years and although they had counselling, they still think about their mum all the time.
“You can never get over something like this, you don’t expect to ever bury your own child, you think you will go before them.”
Popular 28-year-old Amanda opted to have surgery, so it would ease pain in her legs and enable her to look after her children better along with finally being able to wear skirts.
But an inquest ruled that having the operation while taking Dianette contraceptive pill and being overweight at 14 stone probably played a part in the 5ft 5ins cleaner’s death in March last year as both factors increased her risk of a blood clot developing and killing her.
