‘My daughter died trying to stay slim’

SHE LOST WEIGHT SCARILY FAST

‘Throughout her younger years, Tasha struggled with her weight. By her 18^th birthday, she weighed 18 stone and was a size 22. However, I’d educated my children that beauty came from within, so she never seemed bothered by her size.

‘Six months’ later, Tasha and I went shopping as I’d noticed her clothes were too big. By now she was a size 18, but I put it down to her watching what she ate. But as the weeks went by, her weight dropped lower and lower, until she was just under nine stone and wore a size 8-10. I’d noticed she was always thirsty and getting up at night to use the loo, so I started to wonder if diabetes might be the cause. I’d received training in the disease due to my job as a Pharmacy Manager, so I convinced her to get tested.

‘Her blood glucose reading was dangerously high at 28.4mmol/L – for people with diabetes, blood sugar level targets should be 4-7mmol/L before meals and under 9mmol/L after meals. She was sent straight to hospital, where she was confirmed as having Type 1 diabetes.’

TASHA’S ATTITUDE BEGAN TO CHANGE

‘Working in a pharmacy, I was able to help Tasha order her medication, so I knew she’d never run out. At first, she was happy to tell me how she was coping, but after a few weeks she snapped and said her levels were nothing to do with me. Moving out with her boyfriend, she still came home regularly, but I stopped asking about her condition for fear of pushing her away.

‘Then, about eight weeks later, she called in the middle of the night, slurring her words like she was drunk. Her boyfriend said she’d been sick and wasn’t making sense, so she was taken to hospital by ambulance, where she was treated for a diabetic ketoacidosis attack (DKA); a life-threatening complication caused by a lack of insulin in the body.

SHE TOLD ME SHE LOVED ME – I NEVER SAW HER AGAIN

‘On Friday 24^th August, 2018, Tasha had an appointment at her GP next to the pharmacy where I worked. She’d been feeling unwell, but assured me it must be the flu – promising she’d been taking her insulin correctly. After her appointment she popped in to say hello, borrowing some money for some jeans she’d had her eye on. “Love you Mam – I’ll see you tomorrow,” she hollered as she raced out the door. That day never came.

‘The next morning, I was at a friend’s house when a Facebook message popped up on my phone from a girl I’d never met before. Reading the words: “Are you Tasha Horne’s mam?”, I quickly typed back, “Yes”, wondering what sort of mischief she’d been up to. The message that pinged back changed my life forever. “Tasha stayed at my parent’s house with my brother last night and it looks like she has died.”

I DROVE TO THE HOUSE IN A DAZE

‘I got in my car and rushed to the address I’d been given, to find two police cars, an ambulance and paramedics outside. I sat in my car for what seemed like forever before a policeman asked if I was Tasha’s mam. Entering the house, I was told they’d been trying to restart her heart for over an hour – and I knew by now it was already too late. A paramedic entered the kitchen, and I could see by the look on his face what he was about to say. They took me upstairs to identify her and there lay my beautiful baby girl, all tucked up in bed. That image will haunt me for the rest of my life.

‘The next few hours were a blur. Tasha’s dad, Stephen, was working offshore – meaning I had to tell him the devastating news over the rig’s radio. I’d already told her brother, Tom, but decided against telling Scarlett until her dad was home. At just five-years old, it was too hard for her to understand.’

IT HURTS JUST AS MUCH NOW AS THE DAY SHE DIED

‘Today, Stephen and I are in a much better place and Scarlett can openly talk about Tasha without getting upset. Tom has also grown into a wonderful young man and has a new job, which he loves. Scarlett visits Tasha’s grave with me every Sunday and we talk about her all the time. She remembers everything about her wonderful older sister, from her false tan and hair extensions to their girlie nights at home.

‘As a Mam, I’m still devastated and I don’t think that feeling will ever go away. Every day I wish things were different: the pain is still as raw as the day Tasha died. I just wish a law could be passed so that young adults could be monitored more closely in terms of their diabetes, with their parents or next of kin informed if they miss an appointment.’

‘If I can say one thing to any parent whose child has diabetes, it’s this – please talk to them, listen to their concerns and educate yourself on the signs. I might not be able to get my Tasha back, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference and help your child live a long and happy life.’

DIABATES HELP

Concerned a friend or family member could be living with undiagnosed diabetes? Encourage them to visit their GP or local pharmacy for advice and visit Diabetes UK  for more information.

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This feature was written by Claire Muffett-Reece, a freelance journalist and Tasha Horne’s cousin. Her fee for this article has been donated in its entirety to Diabetes UK. To donate yourself, please click here.