Tragedy of the mother who loved life

Aug 14 2006 By Matt Casey, The Evening Chronicle

Full of fun and laughter, mum Nikki Hardy was always smiling. But shortly after a happy holiday picture was taken, the healthy 36-year-old nurse was dead from pneumonia.

Soon after returning to her North East home from a break in Bulgaria, the award-winning nurse complained of a pain in the back.

And when she developed a cough she went to see her GP who diagnosed muscle spasm and prescribed painkillers.

But four days later she started suffering serious breathing problems and again returned to her local surgery, along with her partner Stephen Smith.

She was given emergency oxygen and taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Durham where she was put on a life support machine.

Just hours later at 6.30am on August 3, she died surrounded by Stephen, her parents, Jen and Roger, and brother Paul.

Today, at their home in Cragside, Witton Gilbert, near Durham, Stephen, 40, a plasterer, said: "We're all just devastated, numb.

"We can't believe this has happened. Nikki was healthy throughout her life and never had chest problems." The couple, who have two sons, Isaac, four, and Travis, two, were childhood sweethearts and began courting when Nikki was 14.

She was senior nursing consultant at Earls House Hospital, Durham, which provides care and treatment for people with learning disabilities and mental health problems.

Jen, 58, who also lives in Witton Gilbert and is a nursing assistant at the same hospital, said: "We and all the family are just stunned. Everyone at the hospital is, too. Nikki was well-loved by everyone. She touched the lives of everyone she met.

"She was gifted in many ways and loved to help the less fortunate and would put them before herself. She would always fight their case."

It's the second tragedy to hit the couple as their first child, Jacob, died at birth six years ago.

Stephen said: "Nikki and I have known each other all our lives and have always lived in this village.

"We were so different. I was the quiet and stubborn one. She was effervescent, articulate and intelligent, and she was the most beautiful girl I could ever wish to meet and share so many emotions with.

"I'm just grateful for the love and support she has shown me over the years."

Last year Nikki was nurse of the year with the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust, which manages the hospital.

Lesley Crawford, director of learning difficulties at the trust, who had worked with Nikki over the past two years, said today: "Nikki's passion, enthusiasm, professionalism and drive to improve the lives of the people she worked with made her one of those special people who can never, ever, be replaced.

"She was an inspiration not only to her team, but to the rest of the trust.

"She led by example and would not accept anything but the very best for the patients she was responsible for."

Her funeral was held on Saturday at St Michael's Church, Witton Gilbert. Nikki was buried alongside her son Jacob.