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Tragic mother had surgery to stop school bullies
10 Aug 2009An overweight mother who died following a procedure to fit a gastric band decided to have the operation as she feared her daughter would be teased at school about her size, it emerged today.
Kerry Greaves, 30, from Tang Hall, York, underwent the operation in a bid to lose weight as she was concerned her three-year-old daughter Melissa would be bullied.
However, severe complications meant her stomach failed to heal after the surgery and despite constant operations to save her, she died on July 22.
About 150 people attended her funeral last Friday.
Her devastated mother, Anne, said: "She did it for her daughter. She didn't want her to be picked on at school. She didn't want things said to her like 'your mum's fat' and stuff like that.
"She had mates who had had the operation and they were fine. She thought if they are fine I will be fine. There is a 50/50 risk, but you don't expect anything like this to happen.
"Kerry never thought there would be any problems with the surgery and neither did we, which makes it so much harder to come to terms with this.
"She loved going out and was a ray of sunshine. She was always looking out for other people. She was always thinking of other people."
Mrs Greaves warned people to think long and hard before deciding to have the operation.
"It is just not worth it," she added.
Gastric banding involves fitting a band around the upper part of the stomach.
The procedure can create complications, such as a risk of infection and, in rare cases, leaking into the stomach.
Writing on the website Gonetoosoon.org, friend Julie said: "Your family were so blessed to of had you in their lives, and especially your princess Melissa who will grow up with wonderful memories of a wonderful mum."
Another friend said: "My last words to u on facebook were u will b fine. told u 2 of my friends ad same op n they done well. feel awful yours went wrong. u ad so much to live 4. a beautiful girl lovin family lots friends."
