The mum of an NHS worker who died from Covid a week after giving birth has told of how she is dreading the first Christmas without her.
Becky Regan contracted coronavirus whilst pregnant and passed away in February following the birth of her fourth daughter.
The 29-year-old, from Blyth, Northumberland, had worked at North Tyneside Hospital since January last year.
Becky’s mum Tracey Buckland moved back to the North East from London following the tragedy, and now has full custody of Becky’s youngest child, Jasmine.
She also helps care for Becky’s other three daughters, aged 10, nine and four, Chronicle Live reports.
“I promised her I would look after her girls,” said Tracey, 54.
“It’s so hard, it’s really hard. The girls are really upset at the moment - the four-year-old keeps saying all she wants for Christmas is her mam.
“This was Becky’s favourite time of year - she always went over the top, and well above her purse strings.
“She used to decorate her whole home in wrapping paper and say the elves did it.
“I’ve tried to do what she would do for them.
“I just hope she’s looking down and thinking I’m doing a good job, but I feel like I’m not doing enough.
“I’m trying to keep a brave face but I just don’t want it to happen, I don’t want Christmas to come because I know then we have Jasmine’s birthday and Becky’s anniversary.
“I’ve been quite brave all the way through, but it's just this time of year.”
Becky’s former colleague Louise Bailey, who works as a post room porter at the hospital, has now started an online fundraising campaign for Becky’s girls at Christmas.
Tracey said: “It will be a help. Becky’s colleagues have been absolutely fabulous - they bought everything for this baby.
“Me and my husband had really good jobs but since moving up here we’re earning nothing.
“The whole situation is just horrible. Sometimes I don’t know how I get up in the morning.”
Louise said: “When Becky died I arranged for a collection and I thought it would be nice to take some of the pressure off at this time of year.
“What happened was just absolutely awful. Becky was lovely and friendly.
“She was expecting a baby and we had a brief conversation about baby names.
“When you’re working somewhere like this, everybody knows everybody and people tend to look out for each other.”
