12 May 2023 , 22:54
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A young teacher who died weeks after developing cold and flu symptoms planned her own funeral, knowing she wouldn't make it.
Bethannie Booth, from Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, died surrounded by her family on March 31 after being placed in an induced coma when she developed sepsis following a Strep A infection.
When Bethannie believed she wasn't going to make it, her family said she sent them texts setting out instructions for her own funeral, with bucket hats top of her list.
Hundreds dressed in vibrant clothes attended Bethannie's ceremony at Llwydcoed Crematorium, in South Wales, on Friday afternoon, to celebrate her life, reports WalesOnline.
Her mum, Leanne Booth said her daughter chose the theme due to her zest for life. She said: "She just loved life, loved festivals and also had Ibiza booked for her holiday in July. [She] just loved wearing the bucket hat with quirky sunglasses."
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Friends and family at the funeral service of Bethannie Booth who asked mourners to wear bucket hats (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)Paying tribute to her daughter, she added: "She was a beautiful young lady with a beautiful soul, fun-loving, caring and lived her life to the full. As a family we called her the weekend offender.
"As a nursery teacher, Bethannie took her job very seriously and professionally. I can honestly say I've never ever met someone who loved their job as much as her. The children adored her; she was well and truly loved by them all."
Bethannie was the youngest of three daughters and was dearly loved by her older sisters, Megan, 25 and Nia-Ffion, 27, and younger brother, Corey, 10.
Hundreds turned out in their most colourful clothes and bucket hats for Bethannie's funeral (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)She was an auntie to Parker, three, Caled, four months, and Myles, nine weeks.
Her sister Megan previously told WalesOnline that Bethannie loved her nephews very much. She also described how, while Bethannie was in hospital, the children at the school she worked at all wrote cards and messages to her. "The one thing they all said was how much she made them laugh," Megan said.
Dad Wayne said he, Leanne, Nia-Ffion and Megan all held Bethannie's hand when she died. They praised the doctors at both Guy's and St Thomas Hospital and the Royal Glamorgan Hospital for doing all they could to help and thanked everyone from the consultants to the cleaners.
Friends and family at the funeral service of Bethannie Booth (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)The primary school worker became poorly on World Book Day and contacted 111 to discuss her symptoms but she was told it was likely acne as she reported having red bumps on her face.
A few days later she rang again and was advised to go to hospital. When she arrived at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant she was taken straight to the ICU. She had a collapsed lung and other organs had started to shut down.
She was put in a coma before being transferred to Guy's and St Thomas Hospital in London where she spent two and half weeks on an ecmo (extra corporeal membrane oxygenation) machine which uses an artificial lung, essentially breathing for the patient. She also underwent surgery after developing a hole in her lung.
Bethannie with her parents on her graduation (Media Wales)After her time on the machine Bethannie showed good progress and was able to come off it and was transferred back to the Royal Glamorgan. Wayne said the doctor even told her it was very unlikely she would die at this stage but she had a long road to recovery ahead.
Sadly, five days later, sepsis returned and it was "uncontrollable" and Bethannie died surrounded by her parents and two older sisters.
Following her death, the family wish to raise awareness of sepsis and its symptoms.
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Friends celebrated Bethannie's life with colourful clothes and bucket hats (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)A fundraiser, which has now closed, raised nearly £8,000 in her memory and went towards giving Bethannie her perfect send off.
Tributes on the page showed how much Bethannie was loved by everyone. Helen and Shaun Phillips said: "Boothy girl. You were not only my workmate but more importantly my friend. I couldn't ask for a more loyal, funny, inspirational, vivacious person who I'm privileged to call my friend. I will always miss you my darling beautiful girl. You show them up there how to party because you sure knew how to do it on Earth."