The bravery of a family who told of their ‘unimaginable loss’ after a mum died of rabies has helped boost Brits having vaccines against the devastating disease
A daughter whose mum died from rabies says speaking out about their ‘unimaginable loss’ has helped boost the number of Brits getting vaccinated.
Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, died after being “scratched” by a puppy in Morocco. She’d only had light contact with the stray dog while on holiday in February in the North African country. The married mum-of-two showed no symptoms for four months but when signs appeared it was too late and within weeks she passed away.
Since then her family have been trying to raise awareness and her daughter Robyn Thomson is fundraising to go to Cambodia to help out with a charity fighting to stop rabies deaths. It comes after a mum who left work ‘abruptly’ was then found dead in a hotel room.
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Robyn posted on Facebook a few days ago saying: “Just had a phone call from Public Health. Since our family decided to raise awareness around rabies, it’s been amazing to see the impact.
“They told me they usually get around 700 calls for advice after animal bites – but in June and July alone, they’ve had 3,000 calls and have already vaccinated 3,000 people.
“I think it’s just incredible that people are taking it seriously and getting the vaccines. This is exactly why awareness matters.
“Rabies is 100% preventable with the right treatment, but it’s also 100% fatal if ignored. Knowing that more people are now asking questions, seeking help, and getting protected means everything.
“Thank you to everyone who’s shared posts, spoken to others, or simply taken the time to learn more. You never know whose life you might be helping to save. Let’s keep spreading awareness – not fear, but facts. Education saves lives.”
An inquest into Mrs Ford’s death was opened and adjourned. Mrs Ford was diagnosed at Barnsley Hospital after returning to the UK and was later transferred to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.
Last month her family told how she developed a headache and later couldn’t “walk, talk, sleep, swallow”. She died on June 11.
Yvonne’s daughter says they are “still processing this unimaginable loss”. But despite this her family have been bravely trying to raise awareness to warn other Brits of the danger.
They told how Yvonne and her husband Ron had gone for a winter break to Morocco and had a “great time”.
“Two days before we came home we were on the beach, outside the hotel and there were lots of dogs running about everywhere and there was a puppy actually underneath (Yvonne’s) sunbed,” Ron explained to ITV’s This Morning.
“She put her leg down, startled the dog and it just scratched her. It didn’t bleed, it didn’t really mark her. So I asked her if we should go and see someone and she basically said ‘well, it’s not bled’.
He said there was no illness and they even went on another trip to Florida, where she ended up dancing at the end of May with her granddaughter in Epcot.
But the following week they went on a fishing trip to York in their camper van. Robyn said: “My mum started with a horrendous headache, an unbearable headache. To the point where she couldn’t sleep at all.
“The Monday after that my dad had taken her to A&E because the headache was so severe…she went into hospital walking, talking, doing everything but come the Friday she couldn’t walk, talk, swallow. She had a fear of water, she was horrendously hallucinating… She just deteriorated within five days.”
Robyn is currently trying to raise money to go to Cambodia to carry on raising awareness.
She is hoping to volunteer with ‘Mission Rabies’, an award-winning charity run by Worldwide Veterinary Service. It is involved with a mass dog vaccination campaign and vital education.
“Their goal is to vaccinate at least 70% of the dog population to achieve herd immunity and stop rabies at its source, while also educating children on how to recognise rabid animals and stay safe,” she said.
“This is something I need to do – if I can save even one life through this work, or spare one family from going through what we’ve experienced, then it will be turning a terrible negative into something positive.
“I’m determined to transform my grief into action – helping vaccinate dogs, support surveillance efforts, and deliver life-saving lessons in schools.” So far she has raised more than £3,000 of the £4,000 target.