Help Us Give Our Mum Sonya a Dignified Farewell

Fundraiser Story

We are often told to plan ahead for life’s unexpected moments. But how do you truly prepare for the loss of someone you love, when all you have ever wanted is for them to live as long as possible?

I am the eldest of ten children. I am writing with a heavy heart to ask for support following the sudden passing of our beloved mother, Sonya, who left us on Monday, 13th April 2026, at just 58 years old due to stage 4 cancer.

Our mum was strong, vibrant, and full of life. Her passing has come as a devastating shock to our entire family, not only emotionally, but financially as well.

What Happened

One week before hurricane, Melissa caused devastation in Jamaica, our mum, Sonya, began experiencing flu-like symptoms. She went to Hospital where she was prescribed multivitamins and advised to rest.

However, we were concerned that something more serious might be wrong, so we arranged for a full blood test to be done. A hard copy of the results was taken home, with the intention of having it reviewed by our local doctor.

Tragically, that never happened.

Before the results could be reviewed, Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, struck Jamaica. It caused catastrophic damage to our mum’s home. The force of the storm was so severe that the roof of the house was completely blown off, and the entire property was flooded.

In the devastation that followed, many important belongings were destroyed, including her medical documents and blood test results.

For a short time after this, she appeared to recover. But in March, everything changed.

Her condition suddenly worsened. She developed severe swelling throughout her body, including her throat, making it difficult for her to eat or swallow. My sisters took Sonya to the Hospital multiple times. Each time, she was treated briefly and sent home with pain relief, but without clear answers, and each visit came at a cost that we struggled to understand or justify, as we were not seeing or receiving updates about any form of treatment.

Over the course of several visits, often every two days due to her severe abdominal pain, we were left feeling confused and helpless. From the information we received, it seemed her condition may have already been very advanced, but this was never clearly explained to us. We were not given the clarity or guidance we needed during such a critical time.

Despite her strength and determination, her condition continued to decline rapidly. Within days, she was in unbearable pain.

Before we could get the answers or support we desperately needed, our mum passed away while being rushed to the Hospital after so many visits, held in the arms of her son.

Why We Need Help

Everything happened so quickly. We had no time to prepare, we were still trying to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, and then suddenly faced with the heartbreak of her loss and additional financial responsibilities.

As the eldest of ten children, I am trying to manage this responsibility alone, as none of my siblings are in a financial position to support. We are £3,800 short of covering the cost of our mum’s funeral, and we truly need help.

Her illness was sudden, unexpected, and moved faster than we could have imagined. There was simply no time to plan or save for such an expense.

How Your Support Will Help

Your donations will go directly towards covering funeral expenses and helping us give our mum the respectful and dignified farewell she deserves.

More than anything, we want to honour her life properly, with the love and care she showed all of us.

A Final Message

Our mum meant everything to us. She was our foundation, our matriarch and our one and only mother. Losing her has left a void that can never be filled.

If you are able to give, no matter how small, we would be deeply grateful. And if you cannot donate, sharing this page would mean just as much to us.

Thank you for your kindness, your compassion, and for helping us through one of the most difficult challenges yet.