Above: Carol Bayard died after falling from a roof earlier this month.
By Tania Martin
MONBULK has rallied behind two of its sons after their mother, Carol Bayard, died suddenly earlier this month.
The town is now organising an appeal to help her sons, James, 18 and Joel, 16.
Carol, 49, died on Friday 11 July from complications two days after falling off the roof of her house.
She was cleaning out the gutters and slipped falling five metres to the ground.
An ambulance spokesman said paramedics were called to a house in Priors Road, The Patch, shortly before 3.30pm on Wednesday 9 July to find Carol suffering from a broken pelvis.
Carol was conscious and talking when paramedics took her to Dandenong Hospital.
She had broken her pelvis in two places and had a small tear in her bladder.
But what doctors didn’t realise was that Carol had developed a blood clot.
It was this that eventually led to her death.
Carol had been moved into the high dependency unit at Dandenong Hospital and was awaiting a transfer to the Monash Medical Centre in Clayton when she died.
James was visiting his mother on the Friday after her accident when everything went horribly wrong.
“I was talking to her and all of sudden the monitors were going crazy – everything that should have been low was high,” he said.
Carol then went into cardiac arrest but was revived.
The next time James saw his mother she was on a ventilator.
After Carol was stabilised James decided to go to Clayton to meet his mum on arrival.
But by the time he reached the car park at Dandenong Hospital, he was called back to her room.
At this stage he was prepared for the worst.
It was then that doctors discovered that Carol had a blood clot but by this time it was too late and Carol was unable to be revived again.
“It was a race against time and she ran out of time,” James said.
Carol was known and loved as a dedicated single mother who was always willing to help others.
She was a lifeguard and swimming teacher at the Monbulk Aquatic Centre and had spent the past 15 years of her life dedicated to her sons.
The boys from Monbulk College now face an uphill financial battle.
But the town has rallied behind them and has organised a number of appeals to help them out.
Family friend Robert Wilson said the community was joining together to help the boys to make sure they continued their education.
Mr Wilson said it was what Carol would have wanted.
James said he appreciated the school’s help to allow them to finish their education.
A movie night at Cameo Cinemas in Belgrave will be held on 17 August with a screening of Carol’s favourite film, Dirty Dancing.
Cameo has donated a cinema for the night and all the ticket sales will be donated to the boys.
A gala day appeal has also been arranged for 13 September which will include an auction and plant sale, but the location is yet to be set.
People wanting to make a donation can do so at Monbulk Aquatic Centre in Baynes Park Road where a donation box has been set up.
An account has also been set up at the Commonwealth Bank where people can make a pledge.
To find out more about the appeal contact Helen at the swimming pool on 9756 6227.
