Michael Gavin, a young widower from Dagenham, east London, has shared the heartbreaking story of his wife Christina's final years, describing them as a 'living hell.' Christina Gavin was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in 2009 and prescribed insulin. While she managed her condition initially, her health took a severe turn in 2012 after the stillbirth of their daughter, Angelica.
A Series of Tragic Health Setbacks
Following the stillbirth, Christina underwent five eye surgeries, but by 2014, she was registered blind due to a detached retina caused by diabetes. In 2019, she required the amputation of her right leg above the knee after a foot ulcer became septic. Michael recalled, 'Everything went wrong. The things she went through, you couldn't make it up.'
In 2023, Christina was diagnosed with stage five kidney failure after experiencing back pain, weakness, and fatigue. Michael became her full-time carer. She required dialysis three times a day, which led to complications, including a fistula issue that caused her hand to become cold and claw-like. Shortly before Christmas 2025, Christina suffered two cardiac arrests and was placed in an induced coma for two weeks, during which one finger was amputated.
Final Months of Agony
Michael described the distress of Christina not recognizing him after waking from the coma. 'It was so distressing. I was so angry, wishing something had been done sooner.' In the weeks before her death, Christina's dialysis PICC line began bleeding, and she was hospitalized with a chest infection and fluid in her lungs. Michael received the terrible news that her condition was critical.
The last six months of her life were hell, Michael said. 'The hospital called and said she was unresponsive, so I got there as fast as I could. She had an oxygen mask on and was trying to breathe. I went to get a bottle of water, and when I got back, they said she was gone.'
Legacy and Fundraising
Christina leaves behind Michael and their sons Tommy, 21, and Mikey, 17. Michael has set up a GoFundMe page to cover funeral costs, hoping to bury Christina in the same cemetery as baby Angelica. He described Christina as 'lovely, strong, and kind.' 'I don't want her to be forgotten. When I talked to her, it felt like talking to a mate.'
