THE devastated family of a Gourock woman who died only hours after falling ill with sepsis are launching a bid to prevent more tragedies in her memory.

Loved ones have paid tribute to caring mum Jane MacKenzie, who died at 56 having suffered multiple organ failure caused by blood poisoning.

Her daughter told the Tele how Jane woke up in the morning feeling unwell before rapidly deteriorating and losing her fight for life later that day.

Jane, who cared for families with sick children in hospital, had previously faced a battle with breast cancer which had left her with a number of health complications.

Now her heartbroken daughter Donna Canning is determined to educate people on the early warnings signs of sepsis and she has also organised a fundraiser in support of a campaigning charity.

Donna, a midwife at Paisley’s RAH, said: “My mum had just returned from a holiday in Tenerife and she had been busy Christmas shopping.

“It was my birthday the day before and we had all been together — she seemed fine.

“But in the morning she became very unwell.”

In just a few hours Jane began to deteriorate rapidly. A GP visited her home in Muriel Blue Court and Donna later phoned 999 as her mum began to lose consciousness.

Mum-of-four Donna, 39, who lives in Finnart Street in Greenock, said:

“When we went to A&E they immediately spotted the signs of sepsis and they began to treat her.”

Tragically it was too late and Jane died later that day, December 16, 2015, just two days before her 57th birthday.

Despite her previous fight with breast cancer and the series of complications it caused, she had returned to work and also spent time looking after her grandchildren.

Her daughter said: “My mum had breast cancer six years before and had to have double mastectomy.

“She only found out when she went for a routine mammogram when she turned 50. She had no lumps or signs of cancer.

“She was left with complications like a heart condition and she was on antibiotics because she had infections.”

Jane worked as a warden at the Ronald McDonald House in Glasgow, which gives families a place to stay when their children are in hospital, and she is remembered there with great fondness.

Donna added: “Her name is on a tree at Ronald McDonald House and families left lovely messages. They all loved her and called her a ‘gem’. It was a great comfort to us.

“She was so caring and just loved being a gran. When she moved back to Gourock we spent so much time together as a family.”

At Jane’s funeral the family raised money for Ronald McDonald House.

Now Donna, her sister Kirsti, brother Paul and Jane’s husband Sam, want to warn of the dangers of sepsis and the six warning signs — high temperature, fast heart rate, high or low blood pressure, severe diarrhoea or vomiting, breathlessness and confusion. 

She said: “We want people to err on the side of caution.

“If someone shows three symptoms of sepsis they need to get help.”

To help raise awareness locally, Cupcake Corner owner Fiona has stepped in to host a fundraiser there next week.

Jane, a devoted gran to all her 11 grandchildren, was a regular visitor in the cafe with Donna’s twin girls Cate and Elle, aged three.

Donna, who also has two older sons, Leo, nine, and Tom, eight, hopes to raise money to help the charity UK Sepsis Trust.

She said: “I am overwhelmed by people’s support and I would like to thank Fiona for all her help. We have had some incredible donations.”

The Cupcake Corner fundraiser takes place on Friday March 3 from 4 to 6pm with tickets £5, including a cup of coffee or tea and treats, with raffle tickets on sale.