By her mum, Tricia
Kim was born on 3rd May 1986 after a traumatic birth requiring emergency caesarean section. She was 26 days premature and was in the Special Care Baby Unit until 28th May 1986. She weighed 5lb and needed resuscitation as she was not breathing. She was subsequently diagnosed with a chromosome disorder and my husband and
I had our bloods taken for genetic testing, both were normal. Kim’s diagnosis was 46, xxder(5), t(5;7)(q35.3;q32) de novo, cerebral palsy and profound and multiple learning difficulties. She had 4 febrile seizures as a younger and a seizure when she was 18 as a result of a reaction to Baclofen.
Kim was generally a healthy young girl, feisty and funny. Although she needed help 24/7 for all aspects of daily, she enjoyed going to her special school and then at 19 she attended a day centre, which again she enjoyed especially the hydropool, going ice-skating and riding a tricycle. She enjoyed music and Disney movies and although she had some health issues during her years, she coped with everything and was a ‘fighter’. She ended up needing an ileostomy and again she coped so well with this.
Kim did suffer with heavy and painful periods and being doubly incontinent was difficult. The GP initially prescribed the mini-pill but after a few months it was suggested she come off the pill due to the risk of thrombosis and as Kim was not active (she was unable to walk) and he talked about the Depo-Provera. I was concerned as it was something in her body for 3 months with no antidote, but my GP assured me the risks were weight gain (she could not feed herself, so I controlled what she ate) and possible risk to bone density. Eventually I agreed to this as she
was suffering and I did not like seeing her in so much pain. She started the Depo- Provera in May 2007 and had it every 3 months until October 2023. She occasionally had her blood pressure taken but not often as she was too petite for the blood pressure cuff when having the Depo. I was never given any information about the Depo and never saw the packaging as the syringe was always ready when we arrived for her appointment.
In January 2021 Kim had a tonic clonic seizure and recovered well. As it was ‘out of the blue’ she was referred to a neurologist who prescribed anticonvulsants. Kim had a few seizures after that time but she recovered well with no issues.
In January 2023 we noticed Kim’s balance was not as good (she could sit up on the floor but was now not sitting for as long). She had a scoliosis and so we saw a physiotherapist who advised some exercises and we paid for Kim to have hydrotherapy sessions with a hydrotherapist. She had 4 brief seizures between March and July and a slight tremor in her hands occasionally. I sent video to neurologist who advised it was a benign tremor and nothing to worry about. She did not see Kim or speak to me.
On Sunday 26th November 2023 Kim was not herself, her stoma bag was just fluid and she wasn’t eating or drinking (not like Kim at all). We saw an emergency GP who was unsure. Kim vomited in the surgery, again not like Kim, and GP sent us to A&E. We were at A&E for a long time, she eventually had an x-ray and were told she was constipated but nothing given to her for it. The following morning, Kim’s breathing became laboured and she was rushed to Resus; they thought she might have had a stroke and she had a CT scan. The consultant took us into a room and told us that she had a massive brain tumour causing her brain to swell and she was intubated and taken to the Wessex Neurological Centre in Southampton. Whilst there, were we shown her x-ray which showed a very large tumour, about a quarter of her brain, and pressing on her spinal cord. It was inoperable. They planned to extubate 48 hours later and we were told she may breathe on her own, or not. Of course, she was a fighter and did breathe on her own. We then saw the palliative care consultant and Kim was offered a place at a local young person’s hospice, where we went. We stayed with her from the Friday until she passed away on Tuesday 5th December 2023.
Her death certificate showed cause of death as meningioma, epilepsy and severe learning difficulties. Later, in around June 2025 my friend mentioned about Pfizer being taken to court over the Depo-Provera causing meningiomas. This was the final piece in the puzzle as to why Kim suddenly passed away and what had been happening to her body in the final few months. Kim showed no obvious signs of pain or distress during her final months.