Mansfield family pays tribute to inspirational woman who died after becoming one of the country’s longest surviving triple transplant patients

A family has paid tribute to ‘a wonderful brave young woman’ who has died after becoming one of the country’s longest surviving triple transplant patients.
Laura Dowie with husband Michael at their wedding.Laura Dowie with husband Michael at their wedding.
Laura Dowie with husband Michael at their wedding.

Laura Dowie 28, died peacefully with her family at her bedside at King’s Mill Hospital on Friday 13th February.

Laura who lived with her husband and carer Mike needed a heart and lung transplant to save her life after she was diagnosed with the serious condition primary pulmonary hypertension, at the age of just four.

She later had a kidney transplant when the drugs she was taking to help her body accept her new organs caused her kidneys to fail.

Her mum Helen Daniels of Verona Court said:” We are very proud of her and all she achieved in her life Laura didn’t have a long life but she filled it with lots of things.”

Her operation gave her a whole new lease of life and the chance to live it to the full, becoming a regular feature at Mansfield Palace Theatre in productions with the Lorraine School of Dancing.

Mrs Daniels added: “We are forever grateful to the people who gave her the chance to live by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register and can not stress enough how important it is for others to do the same.

Husband Mike said Laura had touched a lot of people’s lives.

He said: “She was very determined. Laura had been in the situation of being in hospital and pulling through many times before. This time she didn’t pull through. We will all miss her terribly.”

Laura attended mainstream school at Ravenshead and Hucknall.

She joined Masque productions and performed in shows with her mother raising money for charity and helped in the British Heart Foundation shop where her mum was a volunteer.

A funeral was held at Mansfield Cemetery following a horse drawn procession and a packed service at St Peter’s Church , Ravenshead.

Donations made to the Willow Foundation in Laura’s name have so far reached a total of £750.