Tragic mum had op in bid to win time

Aug 20 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A MOTHER’S bid to spend precious time with her five-year- old daughter failed after a life-saving operation was unsuccessful, an inquest heard yesterday.

Joanne Ferguson, 37, spent two years fighting an aggressive tumour that affects only 40 people worldwide, undergoing 19 bouts of chemotherapy.

Her condition steadily improved, but when the drugs’ healing effects began to plateau, she was told she had just months to live without surgery.

And in the hope of five more treasured years with her only child Bethany, the former care assistant decided to undergo a major operation to remove a cancerous tumour from her liver.

But despite the success of the surgery, Joanne’s condition rapidly deteriorated.

She died in hospital just a day after the 10-hour operation in which surgeons removed almost 60% of her liver.

Yesterday, Joanne’s husband, Mark, 37, from Oliver Crescent, Birtley, Gateshead, and her sister, Suzanne Foreman, heard Newcastle coroner David Mitford examine medical evidence surrounding her death.

Speaking to Joanne’s husband, Mr Mitford said: “This operation was the last straw, as far as your wife was concerned.

“People were trying to make things better, and they succeeded in removing the tumour.

“I have never heard of a case where surgery has had to be so extensive as this. You are well aware that it was what your wife decided she wanted to do.

“The evidence suggests to me that without the attempted surgery, her life would not have been long.

“Your wife was a young lady and our hearts go out to you. Please accept my condolences.” Concerns had been raised prior to yesterday’s inquest that Joanne’s death was due to an infection after the operation, but a post-mortem examination confirmed she died of multiple organ failure.

Pathologist Nigel Kirkham said this was the result of post-operative complications to remove the highly aggressive tumour from her body.

He said: “Technically the operation was a success.

“She had liver failure, and her blood was not working properly and was starting to clot.

“This sort of tumour would normally kill within 10 months and she had lived much longer than that.

“The chemotherapy had done what it could, and they had to undergo surgery to see what they could do.”

Outside Newcastle’s Civic Centre, Joanne’s sister Suzanne spoke of her relief at finally hearing the cause of death.

She said: “She was told that she might have five years if she had the operation. It was a massive operation, but the main thing I wanted was to find out what happened. I’m just glad that we’ve finally heard what went on.”

Verdict: Unexpected outcome of necessary medical treatment and an operation.

The evidence suggests to me that without the attempted surgery, her life would not have been long