On 28th January 2015 Joanne McCourt a loving, bubbly person, an amazing Mum to Michelle, Susan, Neil and Katie, loving wife to Steve McCourt, and a family woman who loved all her grandchildren, was rushed into Darlington Hospital where she was diagnosed with Meningitis B.
With her husband and children by her side, all wishing she would pull through, Joanne took a turn for the worse as the horrible disease took over. The family didn’t leave the hospital all night and on Thursday 29th January 2015 the doctors broke the bad news that it was not looking good for Joanne and advised them to alert the family.
Neil (son of Joanne) said “At the moment you find out your Mum is not going to pull through, your body feels numb, the heartache is unbearable and you wish it was just a nightmare. Seeing my Mum laid there through my tearful eyes I begged her to wake up, to just squeeze my hand, telling my Mum I loved her and to just wake up – please”.
Later that day Joanne’s brothers and sister, and other members of her family came to start saying their goodbyes.
Friday 30th January was the day Joanne’s machines were to be turned off and it would be the last time the family would see her.
It was about 10.30 when the doctors began the final tests turning off the drugs being pumped into Joanne, and she passed away.
As a result of this heartache and pain Neil Turner (son of Joanne McCourt) is organising a charity night in her memory at Newton Aycliffe Sports Club, Moore Lane on Saturday 14th May at 7pm – Admission £5.00.
The event will feature live band “Midlife Crisis”. There will be food, auctions and raffle prizes to be won. All proceeds from this event will be going to Meningitis Now. Contact Neil for tickets on 0780 2781252.