A mum tragically died on Christmas Eve after her Strep A symptoms were thought to be a bout of flu.
Carolyn Butcher, 48, died from multiple organ failure, presumed invasive group a streptococcal disease (Strep A), and variceal haemorrhage, Daily Record reports.
The mum-of-five, from Ayrshire, Scotland, was only admitted to Crosshouse Hospital after her fiancé begged 999 operators to send another ambulance out to the stricken mum who had started vomiting blood later that night.
Much-loved Carolyn's sudden death has devastated her five kids, two of whom are aged just eight and 10 years old.
She's also survived by her fiancé Kenny Wilson and seven grandchildren.
Grieving daughter Samantha Butcher believes her mum may still be alive if she was admitted to the hospital earlier.
She said: "Mum said she was feeling unwell on Friday morning and the paramedics came out, took her blood pressure - which was high - and said she had the flu and left.
"My step-dad had to argue with the 999 operator to send another ambulance after she started vomiting blood later that night.
"All I knew was she was in the hospital because she was feeling sick until I got a call telling me she was being worked on. It was a total shock. The next thing we knew was she was going in for an emergency operation and was put on life support.
"She seemed to improve after the op and was sleeping when I left around 11.30pm but on Christmas Eve morning I got a call saying we need to get to the hospital as soon as we could as she didn't have much time left.
"All I could think was, what could've happened in 12 hours?
"She had two cardiac arrests throughout the night and I was told if she had a third they wouldn't resuscitate her. They were going to switch off her life support but we decided to wait for my sister to arrive. We had only been in the hospital for maybe an hour when mum had a third cardiac arrest and she died. It was so quick.
"They had her on the strongest antibiotics but the Strep A just took hold of her body.
"I believe if she had been taken in earlier she would have had a better chance, that extra time could've meant the antibiotics had a better chance to work - it could've meant the difference between life and death."
Carolyn's partner of 13 years, Kenny Wilson, agreed with step-daughter Samantha.
He said: "There is no doubt if Carolyn was admitted earlier she would've had a much better chance. The hospital staff told me there was a good chance she wouldn't make it through the emergency operation but she pulled through and was in a much better way from that morning.
"Losing Carolyn has been a shock to everyone and I'm just focusing on the boys.
"She was a cracking mother and an amazing partner, we met when I was at a low point in my life and she did everything to pick me up.
"If it were up to me I would file a complaint with the NHS for the paramedics not taking her in earlier that day but I'm leaving that up to Samantha."
A review of the care given to Carolyn is now underway, ambulance chiefs have stated.
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We would like to extend our sincere condolences to Ms Butcher’s family at this extremely distressing time.
"A thorough review of the care provided to Ms Butcher has commenced and we will be in contact with the family directly. All findings and lessons learned will be shared with Ms Butcher’s family as part of the review process. We are very sorry for their loss.”
The family was left feeling numb on Christmas day without the 'life and soul of the party'.
Samantha said: "My mum battled alcoholism and I didn't speak to her for the last seven months of her life; that's something I'm going to have to live with.
"The doctor has noted alcoholism as the secondary cause of death as it was still part of her lifestyle.
"Everyone comes to my house for dinner since my partner is a chef and I think mum was planning on coming round that day as my step-dad told me she had stopped drinking on Wednesday to sober up for Christmas.
"We spent the day telling funny stories about mum to the kids. My ten-year-old brother, Kenzie, is coping by continually talking about his mum and he revealed in those stories.
"My mum could be a really fun person, she was house-proud and loved her kids and her music. I've been getting loads of messages from people remembering her as the life and soul of the party."
Carolyn's devastated family is at a loss as to how to manage the expenses of her unexpected funeral so soon after Christmas.
The family wants to bury Carolyn in a white coffin to match her stillborn daughter's coffin.
Samantha added: "All in the basic funeral will cost £4,777 and the only additional thing we've asked for is to paint her coffin white to match the one she picked out for Maya, who was stillborn in 2015.
"I've just lost my mum, my gran has just lost her daughter and now we need to worry about finding almost £5,000.
"The prices of things have all increased too.
"I'm going to apply for grants as soon as I get the death certificate sent to me to help cover some of the costs too."
To donate to Carolyn's funeral expenses click here.
