Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page in memory of my beautiful, young and talented wife Hannah.  She was a loving wife, inspirational teacher & kindest person I know.

Hannah sadly passed away suddenly on 7th February 2015, aged just 31 after a long period in hospital.  She had being diagnosed with a chronic bowel disease known as Ulcerative Colitis(UC).  Normally, this condition is managed with anti-inflammatory medication, however in extreme cases requires surgery to remove the colon.  As the disease only affects the colon this cures the disease. 

Hannah's UC was so severe she had to undergo the frightening ordeal of a colectomy to remove the diseased colon, having been unresponsive to some powerful medication.  She was then left with the difficulty of coming to terms with an ileostomy bag. That alone is a great psychological trauma.  Hannah showed great spirit and bravery to face-up to her new life with the bag; she was even able to empty it herself within days of the surgery.  Although Hannah had suffered immensely from the debilitating symptoms of UC up to the time she had her operation, it was the period after her colectomy where her suffering intensified - losing more weight, becoming severely dehydrated and malnourished.

Her body had become extremely weak and biochemically imbalanced so that by the time the medical staff rushed her to Critical Care on the evening of her death she was already beginning to fade away.  Despite the valiant and compassionate efforts of the Critical Care team it was too little, too late.  She was brave throughout and died in the comfort of her mum and I, with her brother Nick close by.

Although, the outcome was unexpected, during her time in hospital I found the information and support from Crohn's & Colitis UK invaluable.  Their website is informative and written in a non-alarmist manner.  This gave me the knowledge and strength to encourage Hannah through her more difficult days.  In return, I'd like to offer my gratitude by way of donations made in memory of Hannah.

If you can afford to and you feel you'd like to support the fantastic work of this charity then please make a donation.  This is a small way to ensuring the legacy of Hannah and will help to ensure her death was not in vain.

Thank you for reading this and hopefully offering some of your hard earned cash in honour of our girl.