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2024

I’m 22 with a 16 and 14-year-old – people can judge me all they want, but I’d never abandon them

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JUGGLING two teenagers and a toddler can be full on for any mum but Nicole-Jade Campbell is doing exactly that – and she’s only 22.

She’s raising Rocky, 16, and Leo, 14, as well as her 18-month-old daughter Ruby.

Nicole-Jade Campbell with partner Daniel, Rocky, 16, Leo, 14, and her daughter Ruby
Nicole-Jade Campbell with her daughter Ruby as a newborn along with mum Tammy

She stepped up and became ‘mum’ to the boys when their own, Tammy Campbell, died suddenly at just 42. 

Rocky and Leo are in fact Nicole-Jade’s siblings and she has now put her own life on hold to raise them after their worlds were turned upside down.

She says: “I never would’ve abandoned my brothers, but it’s still a lot to take in that I now have three dependants at my age.

“It’s been a big responsibility taking them on as I’ve had to learn how to be a mum figure alongside being their big sister.

I changed our conservatory into their bedroom, but I always thought it was temporary because I hadn’t processed that mum was gone forever

Nicole-Jade

“I can’t put into words the pain we’ve been through.

“Mum was kind and hilarious, and I could always rely on her.

“Her death was so sudden and it was hard to process that I didn’t get to say goodbye.”

Nicole-Jade, a customer assistant for Tesco, was six weeks away from her final law exam at Lincolnshire University in March 2023 when her mum fell ill unexpectedly with severe sickness and diarrhoea.

She had encouraged her to go to Skegness Hospital A&E minutes after she complained of heart palpitations that left her struggling to breathe.

“Mum was still laughing and talking on the phone, but when I went to her house to check on her she didn’t look like herself,” she adds.

“Mum kept shaking it off as a panic attack but she couldn’t stand up and had no colour in her face.

“I had my daughter Ruby with me so I phoned my cousin and her partner and they took her to A&E to get checked out.

“My brothers were also at the cinema and I stayed at mum’s place because I didn’t want them to come home to an empty house.”

Doctors couldn’t find out what was wrong with Tammy, a mum-of-three who owned her own cleaning company, so she was transferred to Pilgrim Hospital, Lincolnshire, and admitted.

A tragic loss

Tragically, she suffered a cardiac arrest and died 30 minutes later.

Tammy with her three children, Nicole-Jade, Leo and Rocky before her sad death.
Tammy lovingly holding her granddaughter Ruby before her tragic death.

Nicole-Jade recalls: “My cousin called me shortly after mum was taken to the second hospital to say she was having a suspected heart attack and to get there straight away. 

“Before I even left the house I got the phone call to say she was dead.

“I completely broke down and I couldn’t stop screaming.

“I called my grandad who helped me break the news to the boys when they came home and they poured their eyes out.”

In the midst of her grief, Nicole-Jade says she went into protective mode. She immediately moved her ‘heartbroken’ brothers into the two-bedroom bungalow she shared with her partner, Daniel Ambrus, 30, a security guard, and their daughter who was five months old at the time.

I’d put my daughter down for a nap, sit Rocky down with maths and English activities and then revise for my exams

Nicole-Jade

“It was tough in the beginning,” Nicole-Jade says. “I changed our conservatory into their bedroom, but I always thought it was temporary because I hadn’t processed that mum was gone forever.

“I’d made the decision alone, but Daniel was incredibly supportive when I told him the boys were moving in. 

“He has a good relationship with my family, and I fell in love with him even more as he stepped up to help.

“I no longer had to care for one child, but two brothers who were completely dependent on me.

“Mum had home schooled Rocky so I became a guardian and a teacher alongside being a new mum.

“I’d put my daughter down for a nap, sit Rocky down with maths and English activities and then revise for my exams.”

A later postmortem revealed Tammy had been suffering from a stomach ulcer – which had burst and caused her heart to stop.

“I do find it a little awkward to talk to them about puberty and girls, but thankfully I have Dan to help with that

Nicole-Jade

Now, 13 months later, Nicole-Jade has put a halt on pursuing a career in law to focus on providing for her family which can be tough financially.

“Now I’ve accepted mum is gone, I can focus on looking after the boys.

“Our bills are definitely more expensive as we have two extra mouths to feed,” says the mum who still managed to graduate from Lincolnshire University last September. 

“But we get by, and I make sure the boys don’t go without.

“I work twilight shifts so I can be at home in the day, and Daniel works day shifts so he can be at home at night.

“But this is what needed to be done – I would never abandon my brothers.

“I can’t believe how strong they’ve been and I’m so proud of how they are coping.

“It can be tough as they still see me as their big sister but I’ve never wanted to replace my mum.

Social life has taken a back seat

“We have open and honest conversations, and we’ll discuss what’s working and what’s not.

“I do find it a little awkward to talk to them about puberty and girls, but thankfully I have Dan to help with that.”

Becoming a mum of three overnight, and losing her own at the same time, means Nicole-Jade’s relationship and friendships have taken a back seat.

“My social life has definitely been impacted as mum was my main source of childcare,” she says.

“That means Dan and I are restricted as to when we can go out, and we barley have time for each other anymore.

“Our relationship is still so strong, and I’m thankful that he chose to stand by me.

“It can also be tough seeing my friends go out and not being able to join them.”

“People tell me I’m a credit to my mum, and I really hope I’ve done her proud.”

Nicole-Jade Campbell at her baby shower with mum Tammy
Nicole-Jade says family will always come first after losing her mum Tammy suddenly
Nicole-Jade’s siblings Leo and Rocky with her daughter Ruby



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