Robyn Thomson immunised thousands of animals in Cambodia after shocking death of her mother
I
t was just a scratch. Among all the feelings and thoughts that she has had to wrestle with since the summer, disbelief is the emotion that Robyn Thomson still struggles with the most. “You never think it would happen to you,” said Robyn. “You don’t really think it happens to anyone.”
Robyn’s mother, Yvonne Ford, had shown no signs of illness in the months after returning from her holiday in Morocco in February. She had spoken highly of the country and its people, and recommended it for future getaways. She had not realised that a seemingly harmless interaction with a puppy while sitting in the sun would cause so much damage.
The signs of Yvonne’s illness remained dormant for months until June, when she began to have flu-like symptoms. The headaches and fever that followed rapidly became more severe and the 59-year-old soon lost the ability to walk or eat.
