A 40-year-old mother of four young children suddenly died this week while getting one of them ready for their first day of school.
Lauren Watts of Queensland, Australia, described by her husband as the “heart of our family,” died on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 9News reported. The cause of her death hasn’t been confirmed by the family, but her death was reportedly sudden.
Her husband, Drew Duncan, described what Watts meant to him in an open letter published by Kidspot.
“You were the heart of our family and kept it beating with your love,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, I think you must have used up all of your own beats on everyone else.
“You were taken from us suddenly whilst we were getting ready for Jimmy’s first day of prep,” he wrote. “Jimmy was so excited for his first day and so were you.
“We had more challenges than most and met them head on together,” he continued. “I promise that I will nurture Olivia, Will, Jimmy and Jude to be the people we always dreamed they would become.”
One of Watts’ friends, Jacqueline Lawson, told Kidspot that “even through the difficulties life threw at her, she never stopped smiling and laughing.”
READ MORE: College tennis player dies unexpectedly in sleep; 2 NCAA players died in 1 week
A GoFundMe campaign benefiting the family was set up by Lawson. At the time of writing, the campaign raised $26,953 in Australian dollars out of a $30,000 goal.
The funds will pay funeral costs and support the family while Duncan takes time off work, according to the campaign. Though currently short of the goal, the funds are already being well-received, Lawson wrote in an update.
“Drew is overwhelmed by the kindness and love people are showing him and the family,” she wrote. “This family needs this right now and because of your actions they will be able to concentrate on holding each other tight during this time.”
