A Croydon family has been left broken after the sudden death of a devoted father.
Milton Smith, 39, father of three young children, died from a brain haemorrhage just weeks after suffering a stroke and being discharged from hospital.
His wife, Malia Smith, described the devastating series of events that led to his death.
Malia told Your Local Guardian: "On December 31, he said he wasn’t feeling too well - I asked what happened and he said dizziness.
"He walked in [to hospital] because he wasn’t feeling too well.
"The doctor examined him and referred him to St George’s Hospital as the symptoms he showed was more than they could handle.
"They done blood work and CT scans and said we want him back on January 2 so they can do an MRI.
"When he returned on January 2, they said they suspected he had a mild stroke."
Milton was admitted and spent more than two weeks in the stroke unit while doctors conducted daily tests, including a lumbar puncture and biopsy, but could not determine the cause of the stroke.
Malia added: "He was getting better, so he was allowed to go home with his family.
"He came home and for a week and a half he was fine, everything was alright.
"On February 8, he called me and said he was getting a sharp pain on his head which went down his lower back.”
Shortly after taking his medication, Milton suffered a severe health episode that required urgent medical attention.
He soon became unresponsive, and after arriving at the hospital, Malia was told by a neurosurgeon that nothing could be done.
She said: "I asked if they could do anything - he has three children under 10, he is 39 years old, he doesn’t have anyone else in the UK.
“He’s a social worker - his whole life is dedicating to helping people.
"The bleeding was very strong.
"On February 10, I asked them to do the tests, and he said to me that they are going to declare him brain dead."
Malia, who has not worked since December 19, said: "My world has not been the same.
"I feel broken inside and I can’t breathe - I am 33 years old."
She described her husband as the "heart of the family," a "present father," and someone who "adored his children".
She said: "He'd walk into a room with a smile, and he was the heart of the family.
"He was calm, steady and cared about people he loved.
"He was a present father, always there, protective of his children.
"He was a dad who showed up.
"I never had to pick my children up from the school.
"He was playful, full of love and making us feel safe."
A GoFundMe page was launched by Little Apples Day Nursery, which one of the children attends, to support the family.
You can donate to the GoFundMe here
The fundraiser reads: "We write with heavy hearts to share devastating news about one of our nursery families.
"Just after Christmas, the children’s father suffered a stroke.
"Through weeks of courage and determination, he returned home, ready to rebuild his life and be with his family.
"Tragically, he then suffered a sudden brain haemorrhage, and this week, the family faced the unimaginable decision to turn off his life support.
"He leaves behind his devoted wife and three young children, whose lives have been forever changed.
"The emotional pain is unimaginable, and the financial pressures they now face - from daily living costs to supporting their children - are overwhelming."
The nursery said: "As a nursery family, we want to be that rainbow - surrounding this family with love, strength and support during the hardest time of their lives."
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