A 24-year-old woman from Caerphilly will be taking on the Oysho Cardiff Half Marathon in memory of her mum who tragically lost her life to sepsis.
Lauren Morgan will be raising money for UK Sepsis Trust and said: “Mum would be laughing at me now, as I’m a complete beginner when it comes to running and exercise”.
The mum-of-two said the pair had started a weight-loss journey together just before the pandemic hit – but her mum Gemma soon started feeling unwell.
Lauren said: “At the end of July 2020 mum started feeling unwell. She was a very proud lady, never wanting to ask for help as she didn’t want to bother anyone unnecessarily. It was only after advice from 111 we realised this was a lot more serious and she was transferred to hospital.”
Gemma was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport where doctors discovered she was experiencing septic shock.
Lauren said: “She went in on Sunday 2 August and the next day was the last time I ever spoke to her. She was having blood transfusions but wasn’t doing well. On the Tuesday she was put into an induced coma and my dad was called to come in.
“I hadn’t heard anything and had a feeling something wasn’t right, so I asked my neighbour to keep an eye on my younger brother and sister and went to pick up my grandma, who was in our bubble, and drove to the hospital. There a consultant sat us down and said there wasn’t anything else they could do. Mum passed away at 7pm on August 4 2020 with me, my dad and her mum beside her. She was only 46.”
Gemma was a secondary school teacher at Blackwood Comprehensive School and Lauren said she did a lot for everyone in the family, her work and in the community.
She said: “Mum was the type of person who would always be there for others and never put herself first. She did a lot for children in school. We told close friends and relatives what had happened but when I announced her death on her Facebook page the amount of people who commented and shared from even 20 years ago was astonishing. People messaged to say she was an amazing teacher and the heart of the school. She had a great relationship with everyone.”
While Lauren’s dad Simon had to learn to become a widow and take care of three children by himself, Lauren the eldest of her siblings, stepped up to take on a maternal role.
She said: “It’s been five years now since mum passed and my brother has just left school and is going on to college. I’m so proud with how my brother, sister and dad have been – they’re all warriors and have done amazing over these last few years.”
Lauren continued with the weight-loss journey she started with her mum and has since gone on to shed 8 stone.
She also met her partner, Christian, and has two children of her own – Theo, who is almost two, and Robyn, who is five months.
Now she has set herself the challenge of running her first half marathon this October.
She said: “These are milestones my beautiful mum was not here to see but I know that she’s still always with me.
“When I saw the Cardiff Half Marathon would be five years since mum passed away, I thought it would be a fantastic thing to do in her memory. Five years ago I couldn’t walk up the stairs without getting out of breath.
“I’m a complete beginner when it comes to running and I know she’d be laughing at me and saying I’m off my rocker for signing up, but I wanted to do something for me and to prove what I can do. I’ve also got her ashes in my necklace so I know she’ll be with me every step of the way – from training to crossing the finish line. Mum’s in my heart all the time and I want to dedicate this all to her.”
Lauren also hopes to help raise more awareness of sepsis and help people spot the signs.
She added: “When mum was unwell we never suspected it could be sepsis. She was very confused and drowsy and was shivering like she was freezing but was so hot to touch.
“Sepsis moves very quickly. It can kill and ruin families – we’re a reality of that, so I’m hoping that by fundraising for the UK Sepsis Trust more can be done to help save lives.”
Matt Newman, Chief Executive at event organisers Run 4 Wales, added: “It’s devastating to hear of the impact sepsis has had on Lauren and her family but what an incredible challenge she is doing in her mother’s memory. We’ve no doubt that Gemma would be extremely proud of her daughter and everything she has achieved and we wish Lauren the best of luck for race day as she takes on her first half marathon in Cardiff.”
The Oysho Cardiff Half Marathon takes place on Sunday 5 October.
To donate to Lauren’s fundraising page visit: cardiffhalf25.enthuse.com/pf/lauren-morgan-for-gemma
