Born 16 07 1976
Died 22 07 2009 of Lung Cancer
Aged 33 Years
Mother of Kyle Jay Kent & Star Jasmine Kent

God saw you were getting tired and a cure was not meant to be, so He put his arms around you and whispered “come with me”. With tearful eyes we watched you, saw you pass away. Although we loved you deeply, we could not make you stay. Your golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best. You are always with me. Tremaine x x

Carla was a spiritually enlightened women who touched the hearts of all those she met. Even towards the end she was still filling the lives of others with hope and happiness. Totally selfless and eternally positive, Carla saw the good in bad situations and always gave to others. An exceptional mother, Carla’s values, principles and personality will live on in the two gifted children she brought into the world. The charities Carla helped are too great to list but she was seen as the original 21st century Florence Nightingale.

The Carla’s Angels charity was formed by her sister-in-law Alison Littlewood and best friend Sherrie Frances, to help others with terminal illness see that there is still a life to live and a fight to be fought, right until the bitter end. To give you an insight into the kind of person Carla was, I have written an account of her remaining days as a mortal, surrounded by her loved ones:

The 19th of August

Carla was asleep in her bed at home, with family and friends busy as bees around the house taking turns to visit her and keep her company, whilst reading from one of her many spiritual books within the bedroom. She would slowly open her eyes and, with a beaming smile, ask who was with her, immediately wanting to know how that person was doing. It was on this day that she said to me: “Move out of the way as you are getting in their way.” I replied: “Whose way?” and she said: “The angels are here and you are in the way”. Laughing, I went downstairs to tell the others what she had said...

Some time in the afternoon she woke to ask me: “What date is it?” so I told her: “The 19th” and she replied: “Not yet” and drifted back to sleep...

The 20th of August

Gladys and Carl - Carla’s mum and dad - were at her bedside, speaking to their beloved and precious daughter. Carla told them how thankful she was to have such loving parents and said she was a full women, so content with the life she had. She assured them everything was ok and they were not to worry. Then she added: “They have me in a queue at the moment mum”. After joking with everyone around her, she went back to sleep, then woke in the late afternoon to pose the question: “What date is it?” We responded: “The 20th“ and she fell back to sleep.

The 21st of August

Carla spoke out that her legs and feet were sore and, after inspection, we noticed they had had started to die. She said: “What I would do to just feel the carpet between my toes again”. With that we all helped her sit on the corner of the bed whilst she explained how the carpet felt to touch with her now very sensitive feet. “Ooooh, that’s lovely,” she said, with an immense smile on her face. “I needed that.” She then asked again: “What’s the date and time?” before going back to bed.

The 22nd of August (The Awakening)

It was early afternoon and I was in the room with her sister Alison. When we were helping her, Carla asked: “What date is it?” and I replied: “The 21st” and her sister immediately corrected me and said: “No, it’s the 22nd”. With this, Carla calmly said: “Go and get everyone. This is the day and it’s happening”. Alison ran downstairs and brought the children and immediate family upstairs to Carla’s bedside.

Carla looked at everyone around the room and spoke to her mum and dad first. She said: “I love you” and then raised her head to speak to the children, Kyle and Star. She told them: “Mummy loves you so much, but I have to go now”. They both replied with: “I love you mummy”. At this time her body was transcending and she held my hand. I said to her: “Don’t be afraid. She responded: “I am not. Love is so beautiful and you take it with you.” She held my hand, staring at me as she took her final breaths of this life.

The reason I wanted to share these moments with you is simple. Throughout her illness and suffering, Carla seemed to be preparing us for the end and she left each of us with our own final gift. Mine was one of awakening to the potential for life after death and spiritual immortality. Now, I am neither spiritual nor religious and I always believed that my role as the male was to provide. But reflecting on Carla’s final days and what she said to us, I am starting to believe there is the potential for more and that life is not just mortality.

I feel I have changed since Carla passed away and become awakened to the true human potential of giving to others. Judging by the 500-plus people at Carla’s funeral, I wasn’t the only one and this is why we have formed Carla’s Angels. Through your help, Carla can continue to have the same kind of impact on the lives of others as she did in her life. Like many affected by the loss of a loved one, we all feel that life is precious. It has to be lived and not abused or squandered.

This website and charity is dedicated to Carla and to showing what we can all do to make life worth living for those who don’t have time on their side.

Join us to raise money for the Palliative Care East Trust and make a difference.