A young man from Merseyside has spoken of his devastation after finding his mother dead on their bathroom floor on Christmas morning, just hours after sharing a final goodnight kiss.
A final Christmas Eve
Louise McKenzie, 38, from Bootle, visited her GP on Christmas Eve where she was diagnosed with an inflamed pancreas. Her 18-year-old son, Reece Barrett, said they were told it was "nothing to worry about," prompting them to finish their last-minute Christmas shopping.
Upon returning home, Louise began tidying but complained of a dizzy spell and a headache. Later that evening, Reece went out to meet friends. When he returned, he found his mother asleep upstairs and snoring loudly.
"I went in, said 'goodnight, I love you' and gave her a kiss," Reece recalled. "She said 'merry Christmas, I love you'." He stayed up for a short while before going to bed himself, unaware it would be their final conversation.
A Christmas morning nightmare
Reece woke around 11am on Christmas Day and made the horrific discovery. His mother was curled up on the bathroom floor. He immediately tried to wake her but realised something was terribly wrong.
"I think I knew straight away she had passed away. I just went into a panic," he said. After calling his girlfriend, he dialled 999 and was instructed to perform CPR. Paramedics arrived but Louise was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police also attended to ensure the circumstances were not suspicious, as only Reece and his mother had been in the house. Reece praised the officers for their support during the traumatic event.
Life turned upside down
It is believed Louise died from a brain haemorrhage. Reece now tortures himself with hindsight, remembering his mother's symptoms the previous evening. "I hate myself that I didn't take her to the hospital," he said, holding back tears. "Instead I told her to just sit down."
Reece, a civil servant, described his mum as a "lovely" people person who was always laughing. In recent years, she had been more restricted as Reece worked and she cared for their XL Bully dog, Virgil.
His world has been shattered. "Her Christmas pyjamas are still upstairs," he said. "She'll never get to wear them or see everything I had promised her. It's a killer."
An uncertain future and community support
Reece is now living temporarily with his girlfriend Holly and her family. He cannot afford the rent on his mother's house alone and faces living independently for the first time, managing bills on a basic wage.
To help him through this difficult period, Holly's mother, Vicki Bradshaw, has launched a GoFundMe page. Initially reluctant to accept help, Reece was persuaded it was necessary. "I had to sit there and accept the help," he admitted.
The fundraiser aims to support Reece with immediate living costs as he navigates the aftermath of his mother's sudden death and plans a future for himself and his dog.
