Lydia Macdonald died after suffering a severe asthma attack, leaving behind toddler Mason. Picture: Facebook/Lydia Macdonald tribute fund for Asthma research UK

Toddler Mason Martin had been alone in the house in Perth, Scotland, for two days after his mum Lydia Macdonald passed away from a chronic asthma attack.

He’d survived by eating a lump of cheese he’d found in the fridge, The Sun reports.

Lydia’s mum Linda Macdonald, 58, became concerned about her daughter when her best friend Jodi-Ann called worried she hadn’t heard from her in days.

Jodi-Ann then visited Lydia’s flat. When there was no answer at the door, she spied Mason through the glass and asked him to open it.

She then found Lydia in bed. The 28-year-old had stopped breathing and passed away in her sleep holding her inhaler.

Mason Martin was alone in his home for two days after his mum Lydia Macdonald died. Picture: Facebook/Lydia Macdonald tribute fund for Asthma research UKSource:Facebook

Suffering from dehydration, Mason was taken to hospital, where Linda had to deliver the gut-wrenching news his mummy was never going to wake up.

Lydia was diagnosed with severe asthma at the age of two.

“Despite this she was always a happy, bubbly little girl,” recalled Linda. “She would be in and out of hospital, rushed in ambulances.

“By her teens she would be hospitalised at least five times a year with severe attacks. She would be sent home an hour after being on a nebuliser, despite her complaining that she still couldn’t breathe.”

During the summer of 2001, when she was 14, Lydia suffered an attack so severe her lips turned blue and she was rushed to A&E. She was kept on oxygen for a week.

Linda said: “Lydia was always sensible about her condition and always carried an inhaler. We taught her to be independent and after leaving school at 16 she trained to be a hairdresser.”

In Spring 2011, when she was 24, Lydia met Bobby Martin — the love of her life.

“Things moved quickly and after six months together Lydia got pregnant. Admittedly it was fast, but they were thrilled and Ron (Lydia’s dad) and I were happy about it.”

Linda Macdonald with her grandson Mason. Picture: Facebook/Lydia Macdonald tribute fund for Asthma research UKSource:Facebook

Lydia’s pregnancy went well and her asthma appeared to improve a bit.

She gave birth to Mason in April 2012 and took to motherhood with ease, throwing herself into it.

But in December 2012, when Mason was just eight months old, Bobby died suddenly.

“Lydia was devastated,” said Linda. “She would show Mason photos of his dad every day and told him he was the biggest star in the sky watching over him. She struggled with her grief but Mason gave her a reason to carry on.”

Four months later in April 2013 — a year before Lydia died — she was rushed to hospital.

“She’d phoned for an ambulance but couldn’t finish her sentence,” recalled Linda.

“Thankfully the paramedics made it to her. She had stopped breathing and had died, but they managed to resuscitate her. I would beg her to come live with me and her dad but she was so independent and she didn’t want to let asthma control her life.”

The last time Linda saw her daughter was a Friday evening.

“I had picked Mason up and taken him home to her. She was laughing, the two of them were dancing around the room — she was so happy,” she said.

“The strange thing was, she told me she had decided she was going to work with the spirit world — it was like she knew.

“I would usually speak to her most days but she had terrible signal, so when I couldn’t get through I tried not to worry to much.

“The last time anyone saw her was her friend on Saturday evening, then nothing. By the time Wednesday came I phoned her friend in a panic, so she went round to the house.”

Lydia Macdonald died after suffering a massive asthma attack. Picture: Facebook/Lydia Macdonald tribute fund for Asthma research UKSource:Facebook

When tearful Jodi-Ann called her to say she couldn’t wake her, Linda said she knew then her daughter was gone.

“We were absolutely devastated,” she explained.

“The light she brought to every room had gone out. They think she passed away on Sunday or Monday night, meaning Mason was alone with her. I have no idea what he thought or what he was going through.

“Lydia was so strong and independent, she passed that onto Mason and somehow he managed to feed and water himself for all that time. We are now bringing up Mason and tell him every day that now his mummy is with daddy and they’re both the brightest stars in the sky — and despite everything he’s doing fantastically.

“I am now starting a campaign in Lydia’s name — asthma can kill, but unlike cancer and other killers no-one knows how severe it can be. We hope by sharing Lydia’s story it can save at least one other person’s life.”

Lydia and Ron have launched the Lydia Macdonald Tribute Fund working with Asthma UK.

For more information visit lydia-macdonald.muchloved.com or the Lydia Macdonald Tribute Fund for Asthma Research UK Facebook page.

Mason Martin survived by eating cheese he found in the fridge. Picture: Facebook/Lydia Macdonald tribute fund for Asthma research UKSource:Facebook

This story originally appeared in The Sun and has been republished here with permission.