FAMILY and friends have paid tribute to popular Wath woman who died after multiple visits to her GP complaining of earache.
Toni Harrison, 33, died on April 3 in Rotherham Hospital.
Her mum Janet Ford said she had been to see her GP three times during March, saying she felt like she ‘had water in her ear that she couldn’t get out’ - thought to be an infection.
Each time, she was sent away without treatment. On Sunday March 31 she had been in the bath when she became unable to move.
“She had to get her partner to lift her out,” said Janet, 56. “He carried her downstairs and they rang 111 and waited for an ambulance.
“She was taken to hospital and when I turned up, she was trying to get out of bed. She leaned over and gave me the biggest cuddle ever and just looked up at me. She had these massive brown eyes.”
Janet said Toni (pictured), who leaves two young children and a ten-month-old baby, later had a suspected heart attack and had to be put on life support.
On the following Wednesday the difficult decision was made to switch off the machine.
Janet, of Matthews Avenue, Wath, said she was amazed at the support she and her family have received.
“She was really bubbly and would always listen to people’s problems and try to help everyone,” added Janet. “We were really close, more like mates.
“She was a brilliant friend, neighbour, mum and daughter.”
Hundreds of pink and red balloons were sent skyward from a Wath field in memory of Toni. More than 100 people went to the event.
Her funeral will take place at Barnsley Crematorium at 12.50pm on Wednesday.
A tribute page on Facebook currently has almost 1,000 likes, and a fundraiser set up by Toni’s friends to support her family has so far raised more than £3,000.
To donate, search Toni Harrison on gofundme.com.
Dr Callum Gardner, interim medical director at Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, said: “On behalf of the trust, I would like to offer our sincere condolences to Ms Harrison’s family. Unfortunately, at this time we are unable to provide any further information around the circumstances of her passing.”
