A university graduate has tragically died after she fell ill with a “sore throat”.
Amy Forsythe, 22, was rushed to Ulster Hospital in Belfast and spent five days in intensive care before tragically passing away in November.
The recent university graduate suffered from throat pain that led to an abscess, which blocked her airways.
Despite the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) staff’s efforts to save her, Amy passed away on November 16, 2024 – five days after being admitted.
Amy had just completed her degree in journalism at Liverpool John Moore University and was working as a classroom assistant with plans to do her teacher training.
Talking about the tragedy to Belfast Live , Amy’s mother, Nicola, said: “Amy was our eldest child. She came back over a year ago from Liverpool John Moore University, after completing a degree in Journalism.
“She was working as a Classroom Assistant and planning to do her teacher training.
“Last November, Amy took ill at home. We had to call an ambulance and she was brought to the Ulster Hospital, where she spent five days in Intensive Care.
“It was end-of-life care, she was only 22. Amy had a sore throat, which led to an abscess that blocked her airway and she passed away on 16 November 2024.”
Nearly a year on from the tragedy, her family have raised more than £15,000 (€17,300) for the ICU which looked after her during her final days.
Mum Nicola added: “The team in the Intensive Care Unit were amazing and we decided that we wanted to give something back, so we started to fundraise.
“At Amy’s funeral, we asked for family flowers only and instead, friends and family made donations, raising £2,500 for the hospital in lieu of flowers.”
The heartbroken family wanted their fundraisers to showcase her lively personality at the hospital, which would make them “a little bit more comfortable” for families during their difficult days.
‘LIFE & SOUL OF PARTY’
Nicola said: “Amy was always the life and soul of the party. She was loud, she was noisy, she was big and had a massive personality. Her favourite colours were pink and yellow, everything she wore was pink and yellow.
“So, if we can help make a room or a place in the Unit a little bit more comfortable to help families in the saddest of days, that is what we want to do.
“After the funeral, I said to my husband James that it would be lovely if we could raise another thousand pounds. In January, we decided to run relay teams in the Belfast Marathon.
“I am a runner, James is not, so he suggested holding a quiz as well. We organised a quiz night in our local football club, where our son Thomas plays, at the end of March. It was incredible, so many people came along and everyone just kept donating. On the night we raised £7,000.
“We aimed to raise £10,000, but with the quiz, the relay teams in May and the support of my running club, Scrabo Striders, the total just kept climbing. With the fundraising and donations in lieu of flowers, we raised over £15,000 for the Unit.”
‘DEEPLY GRATEFUL’
Shaune Lynam, manager of the intensive care unit at Ulster Hospital, said the staff was “deeply grateful” for the gesture.
She said: “This is such a wonderful donation for the Unit at what is such a tragic time for the family.
“To be there to support Amy and her loved ones on such a sad journey was a privilege for the team of Doctors and Nurses in the Intensive Care Unit.
“We are deeply grateful for this incredible donation and we plan to use it to enhance our facilities for families and relatives.
“We will also ensure something pink and yellow is included in the Unit to remember Amy dearly.”
