A 22-year-old woman’s life could have been saved if a hospital appointment hadn’t been cancelled, it was claimed.
Abbie Howard was due to be admitted to hospital on April 4 but had to be delayed for a week because of a shortage of beds.
When was finally arrived at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge on April 11 she was so ill she needed an oxygen mask to breath.
She was due to see doctors on April 18 about being put on the list for a lung transplant but this was cancelled because she was unable to speak and give her consent.
Doctor assured Tracie White, Abbie’s close friend, that they would rearrange an appointment for a week later.
But they never got back in touch and Abbie’s condition steadily deteriorated until she was too ill to go on the transplant list.
She passed away at the hospital on May 14.
Tracie, a professional proof reader, said: “I spoke to them on the morning of the 18th because I live in Suffolk and the hospital is in Cambridge and it’s a long way to go.
“They said she wasn’t well enough to talk so we need to rearrange they appointment.
“I said we need to make another appointment for when she gets better but they never got back to me.
“I do not feel let down by the hospital because they were fantastic but the whole transplant system bugs me.
“Why would you leave someone so long knowing that they were deteriorating and at the last moment they said she was too bad to go on the transplant list.
“They knew the whole process, why isn’t it set up so people aren’t so unwell when they get round to be putting on the list they’re not fit enough for the operation.
“I personally think it could have been done differently. When she was in hospital she managed to fight the infection and she was up and down.
“I feel that if she had been on the planned admission things could have been different.”
Abbie was born with cystic fibrosis – a genetic condition which causes the lungs and intestines to become clogged with mucus.
There is no cure but transplant organs can massively improve sufferers length and quality of life.
Abbie, of Ipswich, Suffolk, spent five years living on and off with Tracie and her son Kalen Hagan, 21.
After her death Kalen has set up Life4Life – an organisation that aims to raise awareness about cystic fibrosis and encourage people to become organ donors.
Paying tribute to Kalen said: “Abbie was extremely outgoing, generous and kind hearted.
“She didn’t ever complain about her illness or try and point blame on anything else, she just soldiered on and carried on cracking jokes, even days before she finally passed.
“She was a true inspiration and the strongest person I know.”
Kalen wants Life4Life to raise £100,000 to help sufferers.
He said: “We desperately need donations to continue our fight for awareness and eventually develop into providing support services for others who are going through the same struggle.
“We want to give people a good insight into the lives of those who aren’t as fortunate when it comes to having a clean bill of health.
“Abbie would spend months in hospital every single year without fail. She was extremely bubbly and energetic and she loved grime just as much as she loved her trainers and fashion.
“She would always be joking around.”
For more visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/
Papworth Hospital has been contacted for comment.
