Help us to bring Fatma home

We are devastated to have to compose this GoFundMe page, but the current Covid -19 pandemic, as well as having fractured and displaced  our world beyond measure, has affected our family immeasurably.

Our beloved mother, Fatma, passed away on Monday 11th January 2021 at the age of 56, due to the devastating effects of Covid-19.

Born in Istanbul, Turkey, on the 1st January 1965, Fatma moved to London alone in her teens with no knowledge of the English language and managed to carve out a successful career in fashion. Through hard work and determination she created a thriving factory which created garments for Vivienne Westwood and Matthew Williamson to name but a few. She had two beautiful children Victoria and Alican whom she raised single handily whilst continuing to work to provide for them.  She was a loving and doting mother who prided herself in sacrificing all things for her children and later on became an extraordinary grandmother to Tai, age 10.

Upon discovering that her son Alican had autism, Fatma took a step back from the fashion industry to become his full time career. She fought tirelessly to ensure he was given every opportunity to learn and develop into a happy young man. Fatma's continued petitioning of the authorities for specialist care for her son led to her also becoming an advocate and mentor for others families experiencing the same difficulties. As well as work and family, Fatma was an outstanding home cook and her legendary barbeques were known far and wide as a meeting place for food, stories and laughter. She also loved nothing more then taking their family puppy Teddy for long walks, even though most of the time she would be carrying him in her arms! 

Fatma followed the government guidelines and did not suffer from any underling health issues but unfortunately, regardless of her cautiousness, she tested positive for Covid-19 on the 22nd December 2020. She was later admitted to Barnet Hospital on the 30th December 2020 spending Christmas and New Years alone and unable to see her children or receive any visitors. 

A constant fighter, Fatma tried desperately to breath independently and recover without the use of a ventilator for as long as possible. Unfortunately she had to be moved into the Intensive Care Unit on her birthday, the 1st January 2021, and after a rapid decline she was placed in an induced Coma, later passing away at 22.11pm on the Monday 11th January 2021 with her children by her hospital bedside. 

Four weeks ago she was with us and we were all laughing together and now she has left us and we need to accept our lives have now changed forever. As her death was completely unexpected; we, her family, were unprepared for her death mentally, emotionally and financially. At the moment we unfortunately do not have the savings to fulfil her last wish, of being buried in her homeland beside her mother in Istanbul, Turkey.

Her absence from Alican, for the first time in 19 years, has led to him experiencing multiple breakdowns. We as a family are trying to support him as best as we can, but we are aware that moving forward he will require lengthy specialist psychiatric treatment to support him through this trauma. 

It is for this reason that we have set up this GoFundMe page to ask our friends and family to help us. We know that things are difficult for everyone in the current situation yet any contribution, no matter how small, would really help us to give Fatma the burial she longed for and to help in the ongoing specialist treatment for Alican.  


Thank you for caring enough to read our story.
Your generosity, support and prayers are greatly appreciated.


In loving memory of Fatma Ozkan 
1st January 1965 - 11th January 2021

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un -
Verily we belong to Allah, and verily to Him do we return  

This was the last picture mum took us before she was intubated and put into a sleep induced coma at Barnet Hospital, she spent the last 11 days fighting for her life. 

It breaks our heart that you have had to leave us so soon we were not ready to loose our mum        like this We will miss you so much You will always be a part of us and we will be a part of you                                    indefinitely ♥️