A 33-YEAR-old woman has died at Ninewells Hospital after suffering a blood clot.
Doris Bailey took ill at home in Arbroath and was taken in for treatment but passed away eight days later.
Today, her mum Christina said that although she was finding it hard to come to terms with the loss, she was proud that Doris’s organs would be donated to help save the lives of others.
She said: “It’s so hard to come to terms with losing my daughter but I can draw some consolation that, thanks to her generous gift, other people will survive.
“It was so typical of her thoughtful and caring nature that she would have become an organ donor.
“I had no idea she carried a donor card. I understand she signed up to become an organ donor when she was at St Andrews University.
“She didn’t tell me she had done it.
“It was only after we knew she wasn’t going to survive that the doctors told me she carried a card.”
Doris was at home with her mum when she became unwell on April 22.
Christina said she heard a noise “and realised that Doris wasn’t at all well”.
She called an ambulance, which took Doris to hospital, where she remained until suffering a cardiac arrest on April 30.
Doris was well-known in the town for the dog-walking service that she ran — regularly walking up to 13 pets at a time, twice a day.
Christina said: “This is especially hard to get to grips with as Doris was obviously so fit and active at all times. I’m going to miss her so much. It really is so hard to lose a child.”
Doris was born in London but grew up in Arbroath. She went to Lathallan School, near St Cyrus, and then went on to Albyn School for Girls in Aberdeen.
She then studied ancient history at university, but became so homesick she gave up her course and returned home.
Christina said Doris had always loved animals, adding: “She jumped at the chance to take over the dog-walking business and she was so popular with all her customers and their dogs.”
Doris is also survived by her dad Keith who lives in London. Her funeral will be held on Tuesday with donations for the Scottish SPCA welcomed.
Christina added: “I want to pay tribute to all the ambulance crew and all the intensive care staff at Ninewells Hospital who did everything they could to try to save Doris.”