Popular Ellon teacher and transplant survivor Audrey Cameron has died while awaiting a second liver.
The 65-year-old Girlguide leader and mum-of-two was known for her fundraising and passion for teaching children with additional support needs.
School days
Born in Ellon on August 14 1957, Audrey Jane was the daughter of Bill and Jenny Massie. Audrey’s mother worked as a district nurse and her father on a grain farm at Mill of Esslemont.
Audrey and her brother attended Esselmont and Ellon primary schools then moved on to Ellon Academy.
From a young age she was involved with Girlguiding.
Starting as a Guide herself she then became a leader, a post she held for 36 years, in the Ellon Guide hut that her granny opened.
Love and marriage
Audrey enjoyed English and handicraft which led to her opting for Aberdeen’s School of Domestic Science, better known as the Dough School, for further education.
Near the end of her training, while she was working part-time for the New Inn Hotel in Ellon, she met painter and decorator Jim Cameron.
The pair married in Ellon Parish Church, where she would later become an elder, on October 13 1979.
The highlight of their honeymoon was a trip to Edinburgh Zoo.
Teaching career
That same year, on graduating from the Dough School, Audrey became a home economics teacher.
For the next decade she worked at both Ellon and Peterhead academies, and she and Jim rented a cottage from her grandparents.
Daughter Lindsay was born in October 1980 and son Steven came along in August 1982.
Towards the end of the 1980s Audrey went back to college to become qualified to teach children and young people with additional support needs (ASN).
The family moved to Auchmaud Cottage, Toll of Birness, when they were able to buy their first house.
Audrey became Ellon Academy’s principal ASN teacher. She introduced the Caledonia Awards, promoted children achieving life skills and launched a breakfast club. Audrey was also instrumental in taking her pupils away for holidays. Butlins was a favourite destination.
Health challenges
Despite a full and active life Audrey was living with a condition called primary sclerosing cholangitis. A chronic liver disease in which the bile ducts become inflamed and scarred, it can cause a bile build up leading to liver damage.
Diagnosed in 2002 after becoming jaundiced she was treated with medicine. Although she became more seriously unwell from time to time including bouts of sepsis it wasn’t until April 2017 that things took a critical turn.
She was placed on the list for a transplant and just 10 days later on May 3, 2017 she was air lifted from Aberdeen to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary to receive a new liver.
To bring some light to darker days navigating her illness Audrey referred to her “bad liver” as Larry and the new one as Lina.
New lease of life
The transplant was a success. For five-and-a-half years she was fit and well again. Despite previously retiring from teaching due to ill health, she was able to return to work, this time in Peterhead to the Anna Ritchie School and also Clerkhill Primary.
Audrey returned to her vibrant self enjoying her new membership to the Rotary Club, attending Dough School reunions, going on many musical theatre trips with Lindsay and spending time with her dogs Mia and Marley.
Lindsay said: “Mum returned to her old positive, outgoing self. We used to joke that she was transplanted with batteries, she had so much energy.”
Second transplant needed
However, in October 2022 Audrey became unwell again. Sepsis saw her admitted to hospital in Edinburgh for six weeks, at which point her liver was found to be failing again. Multiple abdominal hernias were adding to her pain and the discovery of underlying heart problems led to cardiac investigations.
While tests were ongoing Audrey has to have a “liver drain” attached and in January 2023 she was given approval to be added to the transplant list for a second time.
In March she had to return to the capital to have her drain changed. At that point she was placed on the urgent transplant list.
While in the city Audrey took a “walk down memory lane” with a trip to the zoo, this time with her son and four-year-old granddaughter Poppy. While there she got a call to say there was a liver.
Excitement quickly turned to disappointment when it was found to be unsuitable.
‘Time to go home’
Audrey returned to her home where Lindsay, a nurse, was able to look after her mum at home. Though becoming increasingly weak, big-hearted Audrey still had others at the forefront of her mind, sending Lindsay out on errands to buy Easter eggs for children in the community.
Earlier this month blood tests revealed a need for Audrey to be monitored in hospital.
“Mum wanted to do things her way. She didn’t want to be back in hospital, so she stayed at home, in her Winnie-the-Pooh pyjamas. She told them she wouldn’t be coming in, jumped back into bed, and that’s where she died.
“In life – and death – mum did it her way,” said Lindsay.
Audrey passed away on April 4. A private celebration of her life is to take place on Tuesday, April 18.
Legacy
Lindsay added: “My mum was an amazing woman. She used her own journey and her own issues to help shine a light on the great work of Aberdeen and Edinburgh hospitals. She raised more than £6,500, created comfort packs… Mum was also a big supporter of transplant buddies.
“Her own buddy, Margaret, was a rock to her. I know she appreciated that so much.
“I’m going to fundraise in mum’s memory now, to make sure her legacy isn’t forgotten.”
