Coronavirus Scotland: Dundee graffiti artist died after Covid-19 stopped her receiving chemotherapy during cancer battle
A YOUNG cancer patient died after she tested positive for COVID-19 - and couldn’t undergo life-prolonging chemo or radiotherapy.
Stevie Murdoch, 28, a talented graffiti artist, was diagnosed with incurable cervical cancer just three weeks before her death.
⚠ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates on Covid-19
Parents Derrick Murdoch and Sharon Stewart were with her when she died at Roxburghe House, where she was receiving palliative care, at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Dundee.
Her devastated father Derrick said: “The doctors told her there was no cure. They were going to treat her with radiotherapy and chemotherapy to try to prolong her life but they discovered she was Covid-19 positive, even though she was showing no symptoms.
“They said they couldn’t carry out any treatment until she was clear of the virus.
14 OAPs die at Clackmannanshire care home as operators HC-One come under fire
“Devastatingly, Stevie died before that happened.
“Because of the virus we were only allowed to spend the last 24 hours of her life with her in Roxburghe House.”
Stevie had been feeling unwell for about 18 months prior to her death and was finally in so much pain that she visited hospital, where it was discovered she had cervical cancer.
Her mother Sharon said: “We were only able to FaceTime her during her last weeks, but we were allowed to go to Roxburghe House at the end.
“All the time we were being told she was getting out the day she actually died, so it was just one blow after another.”
Stevie, described as an “amazing” daughter, from the Dundee’s West End, had dreams of being an artist from a young age.
She completed an HND in art and design at Dundee College, and was accepted for Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design to take an honours degree in fine art.
She was a popular figure on the graffiti scene in Dundee, where she was known as Mun.
Following her death, a tribute was painted in her memory at the site of the former Halley’s Jute Mill in Dundee, where she had organised a “memorial” event in 2019 following its demolition the previous year.
Ms Stewart said: “Stevie was an amazing person, character and artist.
“Even though she is sadly no longer with us, artists still want to paint and be with her in spirit.
“A few local artists have already painted in her memory and we now want to organise a graffiti jam in Stobswell and an annual music festival in her memory.
“Fundraising has already raised about £5,000.
“We would also love for Stevie to have a memorial bench at the Tayview Community Gardens graffiti wall in Stobswell.”
most read in news
Ms Murdoch’s funeral was on May 13 at Parkgrove Crematorium at Friockheim, with just 20 people in attendance due to coronavirus restrictions.
Her family are planning a memorial to be held once the Covid-19 pandemic is over.
Her father said: “We are obviously all very distressed right now but want to keep her spirit alive, like so many hundreds of her friends and family.”
We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scoop@thesun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5300