Mother-of-three died from bowel condition because she ‘didn’t want to bother a doctor’
Loving mum suffered in silence until it was too late
A MUM-OF-THREE died from a disintegrated bowel - which she thought was just a stomach bug.
Donna Towle, 44, had suffered weeks of discomfort but refused to seek medical attention because she did not "want to bother a doctor".
She was rushed to hospital and was told she would die without emergency surgery as she whispered to her partner Shane Hall, 49, to look after their children, Kelly, 23, Ethan, 18, and Ryan, 17.
But the surgery was unsuccessful and Donna was put on life support - leaving the family to make the heart-breaking decision to turn off the machine.
Her dad Frank Towle, 69, of Hull, East Yorks., said: "Her death has left a gaping hole in our lives - it was just so sudden.
"Donna was too far gone because all of her bowels were 'gone' apparently.
“Doctors said there was no guarantee she would survive her operation and I remember Donna turning to me and Shane and saying, 'Look after the kids' before she went under."
Donna, who worked as a carer for the elderly, had complained of stomach pain for weeks - but had not sought medical attention.
Her symptoms took a turn for the worse late on June 20 which prompted Shane, her partner of 26 years, to call the non-emergency NHS 111 service.
An ambulance was sent to Donna's home in Hull, East Yorks., and she was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary.
Shane, a former landscape gardener, said: "That's when the doctors realised that something was wrong with her guts and they said, 'We need to operate immediately'.
"They told us blood was being restricted to her bowel and that the infection had gone through her intestine so much that there was nothing left for her to sustain life.
"The surgeon told us Donna needed to understand without this operation she would die - and she just nodded her head."
He added: "Looking back, I think she knew she wasn't coming back from this."
The family were given the devastating news Donna would not make it through the surgery.
They decided to not bring Donna round so she would not feel pain - but that would mean she could still hear them while being numb and sedated.
Frank said: "We all put our arms around Donna, told her that we loved her and she was allowed to slowly drift away."
But the family are still none-the-wiser as to what exactly caused the stomach problems.
Describing Donna's pain, her mum Gladys Towle, 70, said: "She just put her stomach pain down to a bug.
"I kept telling her to go to the doctor but she was very stubborn was Donna - she was like me and never wanted to bother the doctor.
"I keep looking over to a sofa in our house where she used to sit. I still expect to see her there."
Paying tribute to his daughter, Frank said: "Donna and Shane thought the absolute world of each other.
"She loved her fashion - she has enough clothes and boots to open a store. She was also always buying things for her three kids and grandchildren."
Shane added: "She was a wonderful woman and a wonderful mum - she was brilliant."
Now Donna's parents are begging others to learn from their family's tragedy and not to ignore symptoms.
Frank added: "Our message is: if you have any internal problems and you are in any doubt - please do not ignore them."
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