As Pam Wood said goodnight to her relatives after a family birthday celebration none of them knew it was the last time they would see her.

But that night in October last year the seemingly fit and healthy 53-year-old went to bed and never woke up.

The devoted wife, mother and grandmother was a victim of the silent killer Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that usually forms in the leg and can be fatal if it reaches the lungs and triggers a pulmonary embolism.

Pam’s husband, Kevin, 55, of Hamilton Close, Macclesfield, who now wants to increase awareness of the condition and reduce the risk of it happening to others, said: "Pam had shown no symptoms whatsoever so you can imagine what a shock this was to me and my family.

"We are all heartbroken and absolutely devastated that someone could die so young having shown no symptoms whatsoever."

That evening, Pam had tucked their grandaughter in bed and read her a story before she and Kevin said goodnight to their daughter and son-in-law and drove home.

They sat and had a drink together before Pam helped him pack for a business trip the following day.

But when Kevin woke up the next morning he found Pam, his ‘soulmate’ for 40 years, had died in her sleep.

"As I lay there the next morning I felt that Pam did not appear to be very warm and so pulled the duvet up over her," recalled Kevin, who is still struggling to come to terms with losing Pam so suddenly.

"I soon realised that something wasn’t quite right and realised she wasn’t breathing. I put my arm across Pam and realised that sadly she had passed away in her sleep.

"I switched on the light and she just looked as though she was sleeping peacefully."

Pam, who had been married to Kevin for 33 years, also left her son Ben, daughter Hayley, son- in law-Emrullah, grandchildren, Akasya and Ceyhan, and a third grandchild due in a few weeks.

Kevin said: "She will never see her third grandchild nor will she see our son Ben get married or see his children.

"So many people have commented on how Pam always wore a smile and had time for everyone.

"But actions speak louder than words and St Paul’s Church, where Pam’s funeral was held, was a full house and we managed to raise £2,000 from donations, which we donated to Lifeblood: The Thrombosis Charity."