Mum dies in Turkey after 'never waking up from gastric sleeve surgery'
Jess Hardiman
A mum has tragically died in Turkey after ‘never waking up from gastric sleeve surgery’, with tributes describing her as ‘the most caring and compassionate person you would ever wish to meet’.
Leanne Michelle died in ‘tragic circumstances’ on 2 July, aged just 38.
Her sister Amy took to Instagram to tell her story, explaining how the mum-of-three had travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, for gastric sleeve surgery.
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“Leanne had struggled with her weight for many years and had made the courageous decision to go ahead with gastric sleeve surgery as she believed this would improve her health and quality of life for herself and the kids,” Amy wrote.
“On 30th June she travelled to Istanbul in Turkey ready for her surgery the following day.
“Unfortunately she never woke up after the surgery and lost her life within 24 hours.”
Family members went to Turkey hoping to be ‘by her side’ when she woke up, but instead received the horrifying news that Leanne had died just hours earlier.
Amy said Leanne often spent her spare time with her kids, and loved live music and festivals.
She had also been planning a trip to Thailand next year to celebrate her 40th birthday.
A GoFundMe has now been set up to help cover funeral costs and to ‘support the transition to a new life’ for her children.
A description said: “Leanne Michelle was the most caring and compassionate person you would ever wish to meet and she left us in tragic circumstances on July 2nd 2023 when she was only 38-years-old.
“Leanne was mother to three beautiful children, Kyle 16, Caitlin, 14, and Keavey, 9, and sadly was lost to them through an operation in which she believed would give quality of life to herself and her children, this was a gastric sleeve procedure where she travelled to Istanbul in Turkey on 30th June and we cannot believe that less than 24 hours of the procedure being performed on the 1st July, she was pronounced dead.
“At this time the circumstances are still to be uncovered and that is something the family will need to uncover for themselves privately and come to terms with the outcome, but they ask that people who are considering this journey for themselves think twice before committing.”
It added that she was ‘well known in the community for supporting others going through a hard time’, and had an ‘open heart, open arms and ears and listened supported anyone who needed to be heard’.
“Leanne was loyal, hardworking and the most loving person you could ever wish to meet and her friends and family would echo that sentiment,” the campaign, which is aiming to raise £10,000, continued.
“It’s not going to be easy for 3 children or her family and friends to move on as she has left a huge void, but we know that you will want to support a woman who supported everyone who asked for help.”
To donate, head to the GoFundMe page here.