A heartbroken mother has spoken publicly about her profound devastation following the sudden and unexpected death of her 24-year-old daughter from a brain aneurysm. Vicki Roberts, 42, from Hereford, Herefordshire, described how her life has been "shattered forever" after her daughter Chloe collapsed at home and never regained consciousness.
A Tragic Day That Changed Everything
In November last year, Vicki was looking after her four-year-old granddaughter Nancy when she received the life-altering phone call. "Chloe was feeling a bit poorly, but we just thought it was a chest infection because she had a cough," Vicki explained. "She got some antibiotics. I spoke to her on and off throughout the day, then I put my granddaughter to bed at 6.30pm."
At 7pm, Vicki received a call from Chloe's new boyfriend saying she wasn't breathing. Initially disbelieving, Vicki's world collapsed when she was shown footage of emergency services working on her daughter. Paramedics worked on Chloe for approximately an hour at the scene before managing to restart her heart sufficiently for hospital transfer.
The Devastating Hospital Revelation
Vicki met the ambulance at the hospital, where medical staff took Chloe straight in while family waited in the relatives' room. "It felt like the longest wait of my life," Vicki recalled. After a CT scan, doctors delivered the crushing news: Chloe had suffered a brain aneurysm that had ruptured, causing a massive cerebral hemorrhage.
"There was nothing they could do," Vicki said. "They let me kiss her before they took her as I said it might be my last time. I couldn't believe my baby girl had gone. She never had any health issues."
Warning Signs Overlooked
In the days leading up to her death, Chloe had been experiencing symptoms that were tragically misinterpreted. She had been feeling generally unwell and complaining about headaches, which the family attributed to her eyesight issues. "Just a few headaches now and again but we put it down to her eyesight and she got different glasses," Vicki explained.
This tragic case highlights how brain aneurysm symptoms can sometimes mimic less serious conditions, with headaches being a common but frequently overlooked warning sign.
Breaking the News to a Four-Year-Old
One of the most heartbreaking tasks fell to Vicki: explaining to Nancy that she would never see her mother again. "It broke my heart," Vicki said. "I had to tell her she was never going to see her mummy again, which broke her little heart. Chloe was only 24."
Nancy now lives with Vicki full-time, creating a new family dynamic born from tragedy. "Life without her is not the same," Vicki reflected. "It's way too quiet, and I miss her voice. Her daughter is the double of her mummy and very noisy like her."
Remembering a Vibrant Young Woman
Chloe was described as a young woman full of life and promise. "She had just started a new relationship, and she was happy," Vicki said. "Chloe was starting life again. Never in a million years did I ever think she would be gone before me."
Vicki remembered her daughter as someone who "had a heart of gold" and was "loved by everyone who knew her." She was particularly known for her vibrant personality and musical talent. "My daughter was bubbly, had a heart of gold. She would help anyone and everyone. Her smile lit up any room she went into, and she had a lot of friends," Vicki shared.
"Chloe loved singing, and her favourite was Adele. We played a clip of her singing at her funeral. She was adored by all her family, especially her daughter, and they loved spending time together."
The Unbearable Goodbye
Vicki described leaving the hospital as one of the most difficult moments of her life. "Walking out of the hospital knowing my baby girl was gone was the hardest thing I've ever had to do," she said. The family continues to grapple with the surreal nature of their loss, with Vicki admitting she sometimes still expects Chloe to call.
This tragic story serves as a poignant reminder of how suddenly life can change and the importance of recognizing potential warning signs of serious medical conditions, even in young, apparently healthy individuals.
