A nurse known for her kindness and infectious laugh has died aged 46. Mum-of-two Marian Gonzaga Tumamak worked for 19 years as an intensive therapy unit (ITU) nurse at Morriston Hospital in Swansea before her death from a brain haemorrhage.
Her family are raising funds to fulfil her final wish of being buried alongside her father Lolo Efren in her home country of the Philippines. Her daughter Kyrsten, 21, told WalesOnline: "The younger nurses appreciated how she mentored them and they loved her so much because she was always the life of the party. She was always the outgoing one making jokes. Everyone loved her for that. She was the best mum."
Marian was a 27-year-old nurse in Makati when she and husband Lui decided to move to Swansea in the hope of making a better life for their family. The couple settled in Cwmdu with Kyrsten and later had another daughter, Megan, who is now aged 13.
Kyrsten said her mum never forgot about her five sisters and their families, often sending clothes and food to them in the Phillippines. Marian also felt part of the Morriston Hospital family in which she was "friends with everyone". Although as a youngster she had wanted to be an engineer she was grateful for her father's encouragement to become a nurse because it turned out to be her calling. "She loved being around people," said Kyrsten.
Having been diagnosed with a heart condition as a young woman Marian was unable to work during the Covid pandemic because she was considered vulnerable to the illness. Kyrsten said: "My mum really missed work during that time. She knew how hard her colleagues were working and wanted to help the NHS."
Although her condition had not affected her day-to-day life much Marian started to become more breathless and was advised that open-heart surgery could extend her life expectancy. She underwent an operation at Morriston in February and seemed to be recovering well.
Kyrsten said: "She came home from hospital after one week instead of the planned two weeks because she was doing so well. She was talking to her friends and sisters on the phone while she was recovering. We didn't expect what happened at all."
In early April Marian suffered a stomach bleed and had to undergo surgery and blood transfusions. Again she was discharged and seemed to be returning to health. She was well enough to drive and go shopping on her own. During this time law student Kyrsten returned from London's City University and spent two happy weeks with her mum.
"We went to brunch, which was our favourite thing to do together. My mum liked to get a full English at the One Sixty café in Swansea. She was really happy that I got her an Apple watch and I then had to get her a phone so the watch would work. She was showing off her new gadgets to all her relatives. I remember when I was going back to London I was crying in the car. I didn't know why at the time but it was probably the universe telling me something."
The following week, on May 8, Marian suddenly lost consciousness due to massive bleeding in her brain. The cause of the haemorrhage is not known. Marian underwent emergency surgery at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff but died on May 16.
"I arrived in Cardiff the day after she was admitted," said Kyrsten. "My sister, my father, my auntie Lorie, and my mum's best friends were able to spend time with her. The doctor said she could hear what we were saying even though she was sedated. I have so much respect for her because it was a very intense environment and she worked in an environment like that for years when she was an ITU nurse saving lives. I am really glad we were there. We were next to her until she breathed her last breath."
The family have raised £8,866 on GoFundMe towards a £13,000 target for the costs of repatriating Marian's body to the Philippines and arranging her funeral. You can make a donation here. Kyrsten said: "We know the huge cost of this and we will be very appreciative and thankful for any donations given. She will be buried right next to my grandfather Lolo Efren. When he passed away it was really hard on her and she would have loved to be next to him."
One donor, Helen Bladon, wrote on the GoFundMe page: "I had the pleasure of being Marian's mentor and friend when she first came to Swansea. She was such a beautiful person inside and out and I have some very fond memories of her. I know she loved her children more than anything. She will be missed by everyone. RIP."
Another, Sarah Kelly, commented: "I had the pleasure of working with Marian and her bright smile lit up the room. Such a beautiful soul. Love to all her friends and family at this sad time x."
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