A MUM has tragically died a week after coming back from a holiday abroad.
Amanda Cugini, from Cardiff, died on July 22 after coming back from Tunisia.
The 47-year-old worked at a local child care nursery and was just about to be fully qualified as a day care nurse.
Her husband David Cugini was with her when she “got into difficulty” and tried to resuscitate her but was unable to.
The family does not currently know what caused Amanda’s death.
“It’s kind of a cliché but she was one in a million,” David said. “She reached out and touched more people that I’m ever going to know.”
“I was with Amanda for 18 years and I knew Amanda for 10 years before that as friends, so I’ve known her a long time and I’m still now getting to hear and meet new people for the first time, who she’d have touched in her life.
“She was an amazing mum, she was an amazing nan to my two grandsons. She was the life and soul of the party. She lit up the room when she walked in.
“It’s the same stuff as what other people say, but not in Mandy’s way. Mandy was different, she was special.”
David said their family had seen hardships, with Amanda losing her parents, as well as the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis, but that she always strove to help others.
“Life has been hard, but someone like Mandy, I always say she would have found a pound and made sure that you either had it all or you’d certainly have half, because she was just a giver,” he explained.
He said Amanda’s loss has left a significant impact on her family, particularly her children. “To be honest, it’s very, very hard,” David said.
“So confusing, upsetting and everything, all rolled into one.
“There are late nights where we sit in with the children and just comfort them because they’re missing mum so much.”
Their family has tried to return to normalcy, playing music and singing like they used to do, but he said their grief comes and goes.
“One minute we’re all laughing, thinking over ‘imagine what mum would have said’ and then next minute we’re all hysterical, emotionally devastated, and crying.”
David said he feels thankful to the community, his family and his friends for their support.
“I’ve been overwhelmed, to be honest, with the outpouring of love and support. The children are the closest to me, so we’ve got each other first, and then it’s a reflection on the friends, family and everybody.
“Even strangers are showing love and support because it’s such a devastating thing for such a beautiful lady at such a young age. It’s been very quick, sudden, very shocking.”
Amanda leaves behind David, her daughters aged 17 and 10, and a stepdaughter aged 34.
She was also a nan to two grandsons.
A GoFundMe was set up to help pay for her funeral.
GoFundMeAmanda Cugini, from Cardiff died on July 22 after coming back from Tunisia[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
