A father whose daughter died after travelling to Turkey for weight-loss surgery has urged people to think again before doing the same.
Shannon Meenan Browse from Londonderry was 32 when she died in August. The mother-of-four travelled for a gastric sleeve operation 18 months ago but, according to her father, got sick almost straight away.
Shane Meenan said his daughter could not keep any food down in the wake of the operation.
He said the illness got so bad her teeth began to rot due to constant vomiting.
The family were told she died in hospital from “malnutrition due to gastric sleeve”.
Shannon’s father Shane wants people to know the potential dangers before travelling abroad for surgery
One of the UK’s leading bariatric surgeons, Prof David Kerrigan said people are taking a “massive risk” by travelling abroad for weight-loss surgery.
In the UK, he said, patients undergo a rigorous preparatory process that includes a psychological assessment and there is “a proper after-care programme”.
Dr Nicola Herron, a Derry-based GP, said the experience of Ms Meenan Browse and her family was “beyond heart-breaking”, adding that doctors in Northern Ireland were becoming increasingly concerned about people travelling abroad for surgery.
“The professionals here are sometimes at a loss as to how to look after people who have come back after this major surgery – because this is a specialist area. That is very worrying,” Dr Herron said. Most people, she added, don’t realise just how serious the surgery can be.
Mr Meenan, meanwhile, said that his daughter’s death had lost him his heart and soul.
“She left behind four beautiful children and we have to be strong now for them.”
Now, he wants others who are thinking about travelling for surgery abroad to know that it is about more than “just paying the money and booking in and getting it”.
Shannon’s brother said anyone considering weight-loss surgery abroad should “fully check it out and do lots of research on the issue before making any decision”.
Speaking at her graveside, Shannon’s brother says she was always “the life and soul of the party”
Speaking at his sister’s graveside, her brother, who is also called Shane, described Shannon as “the life and soul of the party”.
“When she became sick that was difficult to watch and that’s why we want people to be aware of the risks involved in this type of surgery.”