Family’s tribute to ‘wonderful’ Chesterfield mum who tragically died aged 31

Jennifer Bonser, of Cedar Street, Hollingwood, was sadly pronounced dead at Chesterfield Royal Hospital on November 23, 2018.

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An inquest this week heard Jennifer, 31, had heart problems and passed away after a device – which had been surgically fitted in 2016 to help her – stopped working for an unknown reason.

She was on the waiting list for a heart transplant.

Following her inquest, Jennifer’s sister Rebecca Cook told the Derbyshire Times: “Jennifer was a wonderful sister and mother to her children.

“She loved going on holidays with myself and our other sister Mellisa.

“She loved her nephews, Jorden, Thomas and Alex, and her niece, Claudia.

“Jennifer will be missed but will always be in our hearts.

“It’s been a very hard few years.

“We would like to thank everyone who helped Jennifer throughout her illness from the hospitals in London and Sheffield.

“We will always love you, Jennifer.”

Jennifer’s inquest was held at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court on Wednesday.

Peter Nieto, area coroner for Derby and Derbyshire, told the inquest: “Jennifer had been taken to hospital by emergency ambulance when her ventricular assistance device ceased functioning that evening which led to acute cardiac failure.

“The device had been surgically fitted in 2016 due to severe cardiomyopathy and Jennifer was on the waiting list for a heart transplant.

“Although the immediate cause of Jennifer’s death is clear, the reason that the ventricular assistance device ceased to function is not clear.

“The range of possibilities is that there was a physiological event which interfered with the operation of the device, the device malfunctioned or lost power, or a combination of these possibilities, but on the evidence it is not possible to state a likely reason on the balance of probabilities.”

Mr Nieto recorded a narrative conclusion – which is a factual statement setting out the circumstances surrounding someone’s death.

Her medical cause of death was listed as acute cardiac failure, ventricular assistance device ceasing to function (cause unknown), and dilated cardiomyopathy.

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