Bolton mum back home for Christmas after holiday nightmare

Ashley Willcock and her family called on the Bolton people for support after her mum suffered a heart attack during a dream holiday to the Caribbean.

A error on the insurance form left it invalid, but the Bolton family came together to bring her home back.

Today mum Deborah Willcock is back home with her family enjoying a traditional Christmas. 

Deborah, 62, from Harwood, went on a family holiday to Montego Bay with her husband Mike, daughter Ashley, son Aaron, and her five grandchildren in August 23.

She suffered a heart attack two days later on Friday, August 25 and remained in intensive care.

After undergoing a successful heart bypass operation in September, her daughter Ashley says that her mum is looking more like herself.

Deborah Willcock and her husband Mike (Image: Public)

• ALSO READ: Bolton mum home after heart attack and crash on holiday
• ALSO READ: Bolton community to bring mum home after heart-attack
• ALSO READ: Bolton mum needs help after falling ill in Jamaica
• ALSO READ: Bid to get grandmother home after heart attack and car crash

She has also thanked the community and says she does not know what she would of done without their kindness, and the woman who resuscitated her mum.

Ashley said: “She’s doing really well, and she is recovering really well even though there were a few complications after the operation.

“The only thing affecting her is her memory at times, but other than that she’s managing really well.

“I was so happy when she was able to come home from Jamaica and it feels amazing that the operation went so well.

“When we were in Jamaica one minute we got good news, and then it was bad news, and there were a lot of ups and downs.”

Deborah after a crash (Image: Public)Ashley says the whole experience has been an emotional rollercoaster.

Ashley added: “Wythenshawe Hospital did a really good job, and they looked after her.

“And what they have done for her is amazing and I can’t thank the woman who resuscitated her, enough.

“Before we went away, she did not look like herself.

“Since the operation she looks like her old self, and it’s the best I have seen her in a long time.”

Just before the family were coming home from Jamaica Deborah was already buying Christmas presents for the family.

Ashley did not think she would want to with everything going on at the time, but she says her mum is always thinking of others.

Ashley added: “In a few weeks she is gonna write to everybody who has donated, in the new year.

“I am really grateful for the money people helped us with.”

At the time Deborah’s family say that she made a genuine error of not stating she had diabetes type 2, and whilst the insurance company AXA “sympathised” with Deborah’s situation, they said that not disclosing certain information can invalidate a policy.

This meant that Deborah was unable to return home, but thanks to the community rallying together, she was able to undergo triple bypass surgery.

Ashley was also due to get married to Danny Maskell at the time and says whilst it was upsetting that this could not go ahead, all she cared about was her mum’s recovery.

The family managed to raise almost £30k from GoFundMe donations, and around £1,400 from a fundraiser at the Mosley Arms pub in Breightmet.

All together the family spent £73k, which included savings and the money from GoFundMe, which went towards an angiogram, and two stents, although they were unable to complete this, as well as hospital treatments, and travel to the UK.

Collection buckets were also left at the tills of Morrisons in Breightmet, Harwood Pharmacy, Nisa on Bury Road, and the Co-op on Tonge Moor Road.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.