My daughter took her own life after pain caused by mesh surgery

A woman whose daughter took her own life after being left in chronic pain caused by giving birth has spoken of her family's heartbreak.

Sara Baines, 34, from Flintshire, died in September last year leaving her family devastated.

This week an inquest heard Sara suffered from chronic pain due to complications resulting from surgical mesh that was implanted after she gave birth in 2011.

Her mother, Alison Sharrock, 57, is now raising Sara's only daughter, Mischa, 11 and says Sara was failed by the health system on multiple occasions.

Support worker Alison said: 'I miss Sara so much every day. She and I were best friends. But she went through so much pain and she just couldn't take any more.

Sara Baines, 34, from Flintshire, died in September last year after years of agonising pain that began after the birth of her daughter, Mischa

Sara bled heavily during the birth of her daughter and suffered a second-degree tear. Surgery to repair the damage was not successful and she was left incontinent 

'She was a wonderful mum. It was giving birth that caused all of her pain. Yet Mischa was the best thing ever to happen to her.

'Mischa is so like her mum, and she gives me a lot of comfort. I feel as though Sara lives on through her.'

Sara was perfectly healthy until Mischa was born, in July 2011.

Alison says: 'It was a surprise pregnancy and Sara was single. But she and I were close, she was living with me, so she had lots of support.

'I was her birthing partner, and I went to all the scans and appointments.'

Sara bled heavily during the birth and suffered a second-degree tear. She had to have two surgeries to repair the tear, neither of which was completely successful. Sara found herself completely incontinent, at the age of 24.

Alison Sharrock, 57, is now raising Sara's only daughter, Mischa, 11, who she said is so much like her late mother 

Mother and daughter were incredibly close and single mum Sara lived at home with her mum for years after having Mischa

Alison says: 'Sara really struggled. She was mortified and wouldn't go out in case she needed the loo. She didn't socialise, she didn't even go to the shops.

'She had various different hospital appointments. She was referred for physiotherapy. Meanwhile she was just getting worse. It was really difficult for a young girl to cope with.

'Despite all that, she was a brilliant mum. No matter how ill she was, she always put Mischa first. They got their own house but I saw them every day'

In 2015, when Mischa was four, Sara was advised to have mesh fitted. Mesh is a generic name for metallic or polymeric (plastic) implantable surgical devices used as a scaffold to reinforce weaknesses in tissue or bone throughout the human body.

Sara and Mischa at Christmas. Her mum Alison said that Sara would push through the pain to be the best mother, and wouldn't take the drugs she needed so that she wouldn't be 'groggy' while looking after her daughter 

Alison says: 'We were told the mesh was a "quick-fix". It felt like the answer to all her problems and she was thrilled. She had surgery but afterwards, though the incontinence improved, she had terrible abdominal pain.'

The pain became so severe that Sara was offered a hysterectomy, aged 28. Afterwards, the pain only intensified, and her general health deteriorated. She suffered water infections, skin rashes, gum disease and unexplained pain. Unable to eat or sleep, she became depressed and anxious.

She was admitted to hospital several times with pain, but though doctors tried different medications, nothing was effective.

Alison says: 'We couldn't work out why her health was spiralling. Then Sara began researching mesh. She found a support group called Sling the Mesh and discovered there were thousands of women like her, in agony.

Sara refused to take the powerful painkillers she needed to ease the pain because they made her groggy and she wanted to be present for her daughter 

Flowers for Sara's funeral chosen by her daughter Mischa, 11, who now lives with her grandmother 

'She felt nobody was really listening to her. She felt she was gaslighted and fobbed off. She had to give up work and was awarded a disability badge. She had hoped to return to university to train in counselling, but she just wasn't well enough.

'But through it all, Mischa was her priority. Sara took her on days out, she did the school run, she took her to dance and gymnastics and ice skating. She never stopped being a wonderful mum. She'd grit her teeth through the pain, so Mischa didn't miss out.'

Sara pleaded with doctors to remove the mesh and was promised an initial consultation for November 2022. But by now, she was taking a daily cocktail of medication and struggling to see a way forwards.

Alison says: 'Me and my family had started looking after Mischa at weekends so Sara could take powerful painkillers. She refused to take them when she had Mischa because they made her groggy.

Sara with her mother Alison when she was a child. The pair were always very close, and Alison supported her daughter when she became a single mum 

Sara and her daughter Mischa dressed up for Halloween. Throughout all her health struggles, Mischa was Sara's priority 

Sara with Mischa in the months leading up to her death. The mother-of-one was found at home by her mother after taking her own life 

'In September, I had Mischa for the weekend and when my son took her back home, Sara's front door was locked with the key in. I had the most horrible feeling.'

Police found Sara had hung herself and overdosed. She was rushed to hospital and placed on life support but died the following day aged 34, with Alison by her side.

She died before her appointment came around.

Alison says: 'It destroyed me to lose her. It felt so needless. I had to go home and tell Mischa that her mum just couldn't take the pain any more.

'Mischa chose the funeral flowers and she helped me choose the songs too. Mischa is such a good girl. She's a mini-version of her mum and she brings me so much joy and comfort.'

Sara and Mischa on a day out together to Great Orme Mines in Llandudno. Her mother says that Sara never let her health get in the way of giving her daughter a good life 

At an inquest in Ruthin Sara's family claimed she had been let down by the health system.

The hearing heard she had suffered complications during childbirth and had subsequently undergone a hysterectomy. She had also had surgical mesh implanted - which her family said caused her chronic pain.

The pain caused by the mesh severely impacted her mental health, and a procedure to remove it was postponed due to the Covid pandemic. She was due to have an assessment in November, 2022.

John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, recorded a conclusion of suicide.

Kath Sansom, founder of Sling The Mesh which has almost 10,000 members suffering irreversible pan and complications from surgical mesh implants, said: 'Our hearts go out to Sara's family. Nine out of 10 people in our support group were not told any risks of having a plastic mesh permanently implanted.

When Sara was offered mesh surgery she thought it would be a quick fix and finally solve all her problems. She was left fully incontinent in her early 20s after suffering two tears during childbirth

Devoted: Sara would do the school run, take her daughter ice skating and take her to dance classes

'Furthermore, around seven in 10 were ignored, belittled or gaslighted by their healthcare professional when they tried to raise concerns and seek support for debilitating pain, infections and autoimmune diseases.

'Unsurprisingly our latest survey shows 1 in 4 on the page have suicidal thoughts or have considered taking their life. It is bad enough to be innocently harmed from a treatment you were assured was safe but to then face a wall of institutional denial makes that suffering even worse.'

Maxine Cooper, from Sling The Mesh, supported Sara through her battle.

She said: 'Sara and I messaged each other regularly…I was heartbroken and angry when I found out she could not take any more pain and had taken her own life…I keep reading our messages to each other it is so heart-breaking i hope they pay attention now and this never happens again.'

Baroness Julia Cumberlege led a review into the use of the mesh in 2018. She recommended to Ministers in England that there should be a 'pause' in the use of surgical mesh for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

Baroness Cumberlege said: 'Sara's tragic story is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of mesh complications. I have heard from many hundreds of women whose lives have been ruined by the implanting of this medical device.

'The damage is horrendous - searing pain, disability and mental health problems. Very sadly, in Sara's case, it has contributed to the loss of a life. This is a national scandal. Women suffering mesh injuries urgently need financial redress.'

Dr Nick Lyons, executive medical director at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: 'We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Sara's family and loved ones for their loss.

'We would encourage Miss Sharrock to contact us directly so we can look into her concerns. We recognise the need to ensure that mesh surgery is only suitable for a very small number of women.

'Before any surgery takes place, clinicians will have an in depth discussion with the patient to go through their options. A multidisciplinary clinical team will then assess if surgery would be appropriate.

'Surgery is then only approved by myself on a case by case basis before it is able to go ahead.'