16-05-2025
Scots teen girl shouted ‘mum help me' before suddenly dying in her arms
Katy was looking forward to attending her school prom next week when she tragically died
BEGGED TO BE SAVED Scots teen girl shouted 'mum help me' before suddenly dying in her arms
A MOTHER rushed to her cancer-stricken daughter's side after she shouted: 'Mum, help me' — only for the teenager to die in her arms.
Shelly Cornick, 44, told of her 'unimaginable pain' after brave Katy Hay, 15, passed away unexpectedly with a suspected blood clot.
3
Katy Hay tragically passed away on April 26
3
Shelly Cornick has been left 'heartbroken' by her death
3
Katy was grieving last July when her dad Chris, died suddenly from organ failure
Wiping away tears, she said: 'I feel robbed. We thought we had more time, and we had so many plans.
"It is like living a nightmare — we are all devastated.'
The mum of eight recalled how Katy had been prescribed antibiotics for an infection after feeling unwell last month.
But two days later events took a tragic turn at the family's home in Kilmarnock.
Shelly said: 'Katy had slept with me and had been up and down through the night.
'I went downstairs and heard her shouting, 'Mum, mum, help me', so I ran upstairs and held her and she just died in my arms.
I feel robbed. It is like living a nightmare — we are all devastated... It is unimaginable pain
Shelly Cornick
'The doctors think it might have been a blood clot.
'It's been such a shock — it is unimaginable pain.'
Katy had been left grieving last July when her dad Chris Hay, 49, died suddenly from organ failure brought on by a silent cancer he hadn't even known that he had.
We told how weeks earlier the schoolgirl had been referred to nearby Crosshouse Hospital after her GP found a lump on her left leg.
Mum reveals terrifying photo of red mark travelling up thigh that turned out to be blood clot caused by pill
Tests revealed she had stage-four Ewing sarcoma, a rare and very aggressive bone cancer that had spread to her lungs and pelvis.
Katy then underwent a bone transplant, as surgeons removed her cancerous femur bone and replaced it with an artificial limb.
After chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the teenager's prognosis was looking positive as the family enjoyed the festive season together.
But in March, medics told Katy her cancer was terminal and she was sent home to spend time with loved ones.
It's hard to go on without her. But we are all also so, so proud of Katy... She was inspirational
Shelly Cornick
The family then made plans to try to fulfil as many of her dreams as possible.
These included taking a trip to Legoland and Katy attending her prom at the town's Park School, scheduled for next week.
But she suddenly died on April 26 and was laid to rest on Thursday in the dress she had picked out for the prom.
Shelly said: 'It's heartbreaking.
Symptoms of a blood clot
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
DV is a blood clot in a vein, usually in the leg. DVT can be dangerous. Get medical help as soon as possible if you think you have DVT.
Symptoms of DVT are: Throbbing pain in 1 leg (rarely both legs), usually in the calf or thigh, when walking or standing up
Swelling in 1 leg (rarely both legs)
Warm skin around the painful area
Red or darkened skin around the painful area – this may be harder to see on brown or black skin
Swollen veins that are hard or sore when you touch them
These symptoms can also happen in your arm or tummy if that's where the blood clot is.
Pulmonary embolism
A pulmonary embolism is when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in your lungs. It can be life-threatening if not treated quickly.
Symptoms are: Difficulty breathing that comes on suddenly
Chest pain that's worse when you breathe in
Coughing up blood
You may also have pain, redness and swelling in one of your legs (usually the calf).
Credit: NHS
"All Katy wanted to do was to go to her school prom and she has been denied that chance.'
It was another cruel blow for Shelly and her foster daughter Paula, 34, plus Katy's sisters Sophie and Whitney, both 28, Sharna, 26, Rea, 23, Alexis, 16, and Chloe, 15.
But the mum insists they are all now taking courage from the battling teen's strength.
She said: 'We feel so upset and it's hard to go on without her.
'But also we are all also so, so proud of Katy for how she handled everything she endured.
'Not a lot of people could have kept their sense of humour and determination. She was inspirational.'
