Biography
"If we only knew what life had in store for us, maybe we would record each milestone, each precious moment in our families lives to enable us to write, with facts as well as memory, a progression through time. Unfortunately this does not happen.
Sarah entered this world at 10.30pm approx, on Saturday 19th April 1980 to the sound of Johnny Logan singing 'Just another year' as that years Eurovision song contest winner!!! Kath, her big sister, was introduced to her the following day, but she at the grand age of 3 was unimpressed with her baby sister and wanted the one in the next bed as it had more hair!!!!!
As with all babies, the inevitable happened without me seeing it!!! She grew up!!! Sarah started crawling at 7 months then walking just before her 1st birthday, after which there was no stopping her. Up 'til the day she died she seemed to do everything as if in a hurry, ironically as if she had no time to waste……
Both Sarah and Kath attended Canford Heath 1st School, which Sarah seemed to enjoy at first, unfortunately she decided 1 year at school was enough, the 2nd year being very difficult to get her to her classroom without her bolting to the school gates to follow mum home!!! She did finally realize resistance was futile and settled down to learn. Not though without difficulties as Sarah had speech issues and dyslexia, but with true grit and determination, she overcame these hurdles. In the next few years we relocated several times, first to Poole then Yeovil, then back to Bournemouth, eventually settling in Ferndown. These years were not without trauma and problems, changing schools repeatedly and moving 6/7 times, leaving friends behind etc, but Kath and Sarah continued to flourish and grow, often without complaint and always a wonderful support to me.
Sarah loved school, enjoyed learning, and also excelled at sports, a huge surprise to me and her sister as neither of us had any love for the gym or field events!!!! She was also a keen swimmer, altogether an action girl!! She became a Brownie, and later a Guide, gaining many merit badges, enjoying camp and all the outdoor activities especially.
Sarah’s last school was Ferndown Upper, where she worked hard to gain the qualifications she needed to do the job of her choice, even having extra tuition to assist with her English, thereby always trying to conquer her dyslexia. Originally she had wanted to become a vetinary nurse, and was accepted at Kingston Maurward College, but while doing her work experience at a local vet’s, she decided she wanted to work more with people, so rethought her future and decided upon Midwifery.
Like everything she decided upon, it was done with 100% dedication, almost obsessive determination and energy (not including keeping her room tidy, I hasten to add!!!!) She had a passion and a love of life, which radiated from her, if you could manage to keep up with her!!! Sarah worked hard, not only with her school work, as it didn’t always come easy, but also at her part time jobs to enable her to buy nice things, especially clothes and shoes, as she always wanted the world to see her at her best!!! Her love of the sun was now well established and so started her love for foreign travel, to warm sunny destinations with her friends, topping up on the sun bed in between!!!
She was accepted at her 1st choice of university. 'Kingston-upon- Thames', having eventually gained the grades she needed, and was thrilled at the prospect, though well aware of the challenge of leaving home for the first time, leaving all those who were dear to her, her family. Sarah did not like being away from home and immediately regretted her move, but with true Sarah determination proceeded to make the best of it until she could apply to change Universities. She started her application to change to Bournemouth University soon after. It was while she was there that her heart problems started to show themselves. She actually was accepted to transfer to Bournemouth about this time, but as she was now under the care of the cardiac unit at St. George’s hospital, we continued to go there even after her move home.
She was based at Winchester hospital, where she thrived, loved being back among her friends and family and still doing the job she loved. She found work immediately to help her financially (clubbing WAS important as was her need for shoes, holidays etc). Sarah was diagnosed with ARVC ( arrythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy) in 2000, and despite constant hospital appointments in London, she continued her busy life as if nothing was amiss.
In 2002 Sarah and a friend (Debbie Howells), also a student midwife, decided to do their elective placement with the midwives in New Zealand, an adventure of a lifetime. The planning and organising took months, but before we knew it they were boarding their plane at Heathrow. The journey is documented in photos. I learnt to email for the first time when Sarah was there, as all through the years, if she was apart from her family she contacted us on a regular basis, where was irrelevant, those ties and love were always strong.
She returned, in love with the place and making plans to return as soon as possible. Her graduation ceremony took place on 12th April 2003, on Kath's birthday, followed by her 23rd birthday a week later. What a time of celebration and pride, for all of us.
She had by now started working as a qualified Midwife at Bournemouth Hospital maternity unit, revelling in her job, enjoying every moment.( Her mentor said to me later, when she introduced herself to Sarah, Sarah’s reply was her infectious laugh and the words 'you’ve got trouble then'!!!)
Her new niece Ellie's christening, a family celebration we will always remember held June 1st 2003 at All Saints Church, West Parley... On 2nd June, 2003 Sarah passed away in her sleep, at home. ARVC had claimed another angel.
Thank you for reading this biography: it is not complete."
