Double tragedy as siblings aged 5 and three orphaned as dad and mom die two years aside
Little Ellie and Alfie are preparing for a heartbreaking Christmas without their parents after losing their mum suddenly this month just two years after their father died
Two youngsters under six have been left without both parents following their mum’s death – just two years after their father passed away. Louise Smith, from Clayton, died on Friday after suffering a heart attack at just 42.
The tragedy struck two years after 46-year-old Steven Smith lost his battle with terminal cancer. Louise’s sister Tracy Green is now looking after five-year-old Ellie and three-year-old Alfie, and has set up an online fundraising campaign.
Tracy, 45, from Clayton, told Stoke on Trent Live.: “Steve was very careful with his health. He popped into one of those check-up vans on the street one day just for some peace of mind. He had been feeling a bit forgetful and things like that.
“They told him they wanted to do more tests. He went to the Royal Stoke and he was feeling a bit worried that he was getting early-onset dementia or something. But it turned out to be brain cancer. The doctors told him it was terminal and that he’d have five years. But he died just six weeks later.”
Tracy added: “My sister took it really hard. She fell into a depression. But she had started to get better recently. We were making plans for Christmas this year. I went to her house and we decided we’d go to London for the fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
“That’s when I went into the bathroom for 10 minutes. I came back out and I saw her lying on the floor. I tried to wake her up but she was unresponsive. I started crying uncontrollably and called an ambulance. The kids saw the whole thing. By the time the paramedics arrived, she had already gone.”
Tracy said she and the youngsters have been devastated by the unexpected death of beloved Louise.
“My sister was a bubbly, bright and lovely person,” Tracy revealed. “She was my best friend and my only family. She made me smile every day. For this to happen has just left me absolutely gobsmacked. I don’t even know what to say. Christmas is just round the corner. We didn’t expect this. You don’t think anything like this will ever happen to you until it does.
“Now the kids are orphans. I’m taking them in. I don’t have kids, so they’ve always felt like kids of my own, but it’s still so hard. They don’t really understand what’s happened. They keep asking where their mum is. I tell them she’s with the angels now. Then they tell me that they want to see her for Christmas. It’s heart-breaking knowing that I can’t give them that. That’s the only gift they want this year.”
Tracy is now appealing to the community of North Staffordshire to help bring some festive joy to little Ellie and Alfie.
She continued: “It has left me in such a difficult position. It was just me and my sister. Christmas this year will just be me and the kids.
“Now I need to give her the send-off she deserves and one that the kids can be involved with. One where they can get to say goodbye to their mum properly and come to terms with what’s happened. I wasn’t expecting this so it’s going to be hard finding the money.
“I also want to make sure that they get the Christmas they deserve too. It’s all they’ve been talking about for weeks. Until this. Now I just want to make sure I can make it magical for them and give them a day to focus on something else. Ellie loves Barbie and Alfie loves Lego. Hopefully Christmas can keep them occupied and give them a reason to smile, even if it’s just for a day.
“I’m hoping the community of North Staffordshire can come together and support us. People have been really kind already. My neighbours are dropping off food and helping to watch the kids while I figure things out. Reaching out has been a real last resort for me, but I don’t know what else to do.”
You can donate to Tracy’s appeal by visiting her GoFundMe page.
