A mother terrified of living without her cancer-stricken husband died of a broken heart when he went into palliative care, dying three days before him.
Sharon Dann, 54, and Wayne Dann, 57, from Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, had been married for almost ten years and referred to each other as “soulmates”.
Wayne, who had previously undergone radiotherapy for cancer in his groin, discovered it had spread to his lungs, so he had to undergo surgery in October last year.
Despite doctors’ best efforts, the family discovered in February that the 57-year-old had sarcoma and would need chemotherapy.
But in March, the landscape gardener was sent to hospital when his condition deteriorated and his wife, 54, refused to leave his bed for six days.
Sharon Dann, 54 (right) and Wayne Dann, 57 (left), from Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, died just days apart after Sharon died of a broken heart three days before her stricken husband for cancer.
Sharon’s daughter, Ellie Steward, said her mother had trouble eating or sleeping because she was terrified of living in a world without her husband.
The 29-year-old says their relationship was based on mutual adoration and lots of laughter as they were “each other’s person.”
Just three days before Wayne’s death, Ellie received the life-changing phone call from her mother, who was struggling to breathe.
Ellie rushed to Warwick Hospital in Warwickshire immediately but was told by nurses that Sharon had suffered a heart attack caused by broken heart syndrome, also known as stress cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo syndrome.
This rare condition occurs when a person experiences sudden acute stress that can quickly weaken the heart muscle, which can be life-threatening.
Sharon was placed in a medically induced coma but sadly passed away on April 4th, followed by Wayne who died three days later on April 7th.
Ellie said: ‘My mum had a really bad time. She was very stressed and worried about all this. I tried to be there for her as much as I could because I didn’t want her to be alone.
The happy couple had been married for almost ten years and called each other “soul mates.”
Sharon’s daughter Ellie Steward, 29 (left), said her mother struggled to eat or sleep because she was terrified of living in a world without her husband.
The 29-year-old says their relationship was based on mutual adoration and lots of laughter as they were “each other’s person.”
“When Wayne was rushed to the hospital, we were told he wouldn’t be able to receive chemotherapy. The hospital called us the next day and said “we think he’s going to die today.”
‘The emergency room put us in a private room, but he didn’t die that day. Every day he would come in with my mother and sit me in this room. The extent of my mother’s distress was enormous.
“She was constantly in the hospital room with him, she only came home twice. I went home with her to change clothes.
“She wasn’t eating, she wasn’t sleeping and I kept trying to get her out of the room. I ordered her a Subway and I was trying to get her to eat.
“I was trying to get her to get some fresh air, but she kept crying and saying she didn’t want to be alone.
“Sunday arrived, which was Easter, and my mother called me. I thought she was going to say that my stepfather had died but she said that she couldn’t breathe.
“I got to the hospital as quickly as I could. The nurses told me that my mother had had a heart attack.
Just three days before Wayne’s death, Ellie received the life-changing phone call from her mother, who was struggling to breathe.
Ellie rushed to Warwick Hospital in Warwickshire immediately but was told by nurses that Sharon had suffered a heart attack caused by broken heart syndrome, also known as stress cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo syndrome.
Sharon was placed in a medically induced coma but sadly passed away on April 4th, followed by Wayne who died three days later on April 7th.
Ellie held her mother’s hands after she went into a coma following her heart attack.
Ellie saved her mother and Wayne’s wedding rings and put them together on a chain.
Ellie got a heartfelt tattoo in memory of her mother who passed away on April 4
Devastated Ellie describes her mother as an incredibly loving and caring woman and her stepfather as a wonderfully funny man who always knew how to make others smile.
The retail worker now hopes that by sharing her story it will encourage other grieving people to take better care of themselves to avoid the same fate.
“I got there and they put her in a coma. She was in a coma from Sunday until April 4 and that’s when she died. The doctor said she had a form of broken heart syndrome.
Devastated Ellie describes her mother as an incredibly loving and caring woman and her stepfather as a wonderfully funny man who always knew how to make others smile.
The retail worker now hopes that by sharing her story it will encourage other grieving people to take better care of themselves to avoid the same fate.
Ellie said: ‘They were soulmates, that’s how they described each other. They finished each other’s sentences, they were each other’s person.
‘They had a very close relationship. My mother was a caregiver, so by nature she was very loving and caring.
‘My stepfather was very funny, he had a great sense of humor. Until the last day I saw him, he made my mom and me laugh.
“A lot of older people die from broken heart syndrome, so I think it’s quite rare for someone your age and it’s something that doctors don’t really see.
“I wasn’t surprised when they said that was what they thought had happened, as I knew how afraid my mother was of feeling alone.
‘My advice to others would be to simply be kind to yourself and be patient with yourself. Go through what you feel.’
