Family torn by young mother’s sudden death

When Alexander 'Lexy' Ellis was admitted at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) on December 28 last year, she told her loved ones not to worry. She anticipated being there for just a couple of days before returning home to care for her family, which includes her three children -- ages eight years old, seven years old and a six-week-old daughter.

The 27-year-old checked herself into the hospital after noticing that her eyes were yellowish and her urine appeared discoloured. According to Ellis' mother, Donette Baker, her daughter developed the symptoms shortly after giving birth to her third child.

Ellis, she said, had a normal pregnancy and delivered her daughter, via Cesarean section, on November 10. The post-partum mother was prescribed Metamizole 500 tablets to help her deal with the pain.

Baker said her daughter, at a post-natal doctor visit, reported some worrying symptoms, which she felt was linked to the medication.

"She had notice that her urine was extremely yellow and her eyes had got yellow, too. She wasn't feeling any pain or anything, but when she went to six-week clinic, she mentioned it to the doctor. The doctor told her that she should go KPH, as it could be a case of jaundice or leptospirosis," she said.

Ellis, the mother said, followed the doctor's advice and went to the hospital.

"By the time Lexy reach the hospital, we were told that her liver gone bad," the grieving mother said of the shocking diagnosis.

"How Lexy liver fi go bad?," she said, adding that her daughter embraced a healthy lifestyle as she did not drink alcohol, was not a smoker, and consumed lots of water.

"The doctor said liver issues can just developed just like that, but she was showing no symptoms. How can you be okay one day and then just sick suh the next day. This is hard," Baker added.

Given the nature of her illness, Ellis was admitted. While doctors worked to help, her family members and friend prayed earnestly for a full recovery, but this was not to be. The young woman died of liver failure on January 4, leaving her loved ones in shock.

Baker said the cruelty of death has ripped her daughter's dreams apart. She described Ellis has an ambitious young woman and a devoted wife and parent.

"She worked at a call centre, but she said when her maternity leave up, she didn't think she was going to work for anyone. She wanted to started a little shop. She was just 27, but she already buy her house, and she married two years ago. Her husband, her children were her entire life. They were the world to her.

"Mi daughter was my best friend, and any little thing mi daughter tell mi. Mi feel like mi deh pon a mad road a walk, and mi have to just a try focus because mi have three little grandchildren to think about. Mi head feel like it a split in two," Baker added.