My late daughter was sunshine in human form and now I am fundraising to help other mums
Next Thursday should have been Rebecca Ryding’s 29th birthday - sadly, she will not get to celebrate it.
Rebecca from Fulwood tragically passed away last April after giving birth to her beautiful baby boy Vinnie.
She suffered an amniotic fluid embolism - a rare, life-threatening obstetric emergency occurring during labor, delivery, or immediately postpartum, where amniotic fluid enters maternal circulation, causing severe allergic-like reaction, cardiovascular collapse, and coagulopathy.
Now, carrying on her daughter’s legacy of helping others, her mum Joanne Neville, 54, has set up a fundraiser for the Wellbeing of Women charity.
The women’s health charity helps save and change the lives of women, girls and babies through research, education and advocacy by investing in world class research, championing education, raising awareness and tackling the taboos that exist in women’s health.
Joanne said: “Last year, we lost Rebecca during what should have been the happiest time of her and our lives.
“Rebecca lit up a room with her warmth and love and gave so much to us and others. She was the kindest person and loved people and animals with all her heart.
“Her brother Robert who is 20 has been having a hard time without her. She would have turned 29 next week. Everyone adored her. She was so loved.”
Joanne added: “Our ambition is to ensure that women’s lives are not limited by their gynaecological and reproductive health.
“We do this by investing in world class research, championing education, raising awareness and tackling the taboos that exist in women’s health, influencing guidelines, policy and practice and empowering women to advocate for themselves.”
“If I can give something to the charity that will help save others from what Rebecca passed away with ( AFE) it would absolutely mean the world as I know from the bottom of my heart it would mean so much to Rebecca.”
Joanne credited focusing on helping other women which acts as a sort of grief platform for her.
She added: “Vinnie is like Rebecca so much. Everyone adores him at nursery and Pete is a fantastic dad to him.
“It gives me strength and comfort helping the Wellbeing of Women charity as I know she would have loved this and I am immensely proud of her.
“I am trying to keep her alive in my own way.”
If you would like to make a donation to Joanne's fundraiser for Wellbeing of Women click here