![Fakir Sacha & family CROP](https://theshuttle.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Fakir-Sacha-family-CROP.jpg)
Fakir Sacha in happier times with his sister (centre) and his parents (seated and right)
Published Thursday 29 October 2020 at 9:14
“The hardest part was not being able to be with my mum at the hospital, and not having the chance to say goodbye or give her a hug.”
Blackburn resident Fakir Sacha bravely tells the story of losing not only his mum, but his dad too, to Covid-19. They died within days of each other in August.
Fakir and his wife Mohsina caught the virus first. Through trying to socially distance at home, their two children stayed virus-free, but Fakir’s elderly parents, Ismail and Amina, developed Coronavirus symptoms about a week later. Their persistent coughs and high temperatures led to positive tests for Coronavirus, and they quickly became weak.
The family were worried, as both 78 year old Ismail and 85 year old Amina had underlying health conditions. They were diabetic and had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Ismail suffered from angina too.
Mum’s condition worsened first. Everything happened so quickly, and the virus really took hold of her,” said Fakir.
One Friday she was unresponsive so we called an ambulance. Her oxygen levels had dropped dramatically and she had pneumonia, and she needed to go to hospital. She wanted one of us to go with her, but because of the restrictions we couldn’t. That was the hardest part.
But Mum had been in hospital before and had always pulled through – she was a fighter. We thought this time would be no different.
But sadly, the following afternoon, Fakir got a call from the hospital to say his mum had passed away.
It was so sad that we couldn’t have been with her, to comfort her.
The virus had already weakened Ismail. He didn’t have much of an appetite, and with the shock of losing his wife, he wasn’t eating properly.
Fakir continued:
On the Monday, two days after my mum’s death, Dad suffered a heart attack and died later in hospital. There was nothing they could do for him.
It was a shock. Up until catching the virus, Mum and Dad were both quite active for their age and very independent, doing their own shopping, cooking and cleaning.
In Muslim culture, it’s normal for friends and family to visit when there’s a bereavement, but obviously that couldn’t happen because of local Coronavirus restrictions and Fakir and his family having the virus too.
Fakir said:
We all felt so empty, at home on our own at a time when people would normally visit. We couldn’t even go to the funerals.
My sister and her family were having to self-isolate as they had the virus too. My parents had a lot of friends, in Blackburn and from further afield. None of them could come to pay their respects.
It was a very dark period. We had to be strong, and we got through it. Our neighbours were amazing, really supportive. They’d knock on the door to check that we were OK and give us moral support. We wouldn’t have got through it without them.
Fakir wants to use his own experience of Coronavirus to warn local families of the dangers. He added:
This virus is serious, and it’s here in Blackburn. You could catch it from anywhere and bring it home to your loved ones.
Don’t treat it lightly, and take precautions to protect you and your family.
In Blackburn with Darwen since March, there have been 114 deaths due to Covid-19. That’s many more local families torn apart by the virus.
Coronavirus is currently at its highest level in the borough, with an infection rate of 770.1 per 100,000 people.
In the last week alone, there have been 1,147 new cases of Coronavirus in Blackburn with Darwen.
The borough, along with the rest of Lancashire, went into Tier 3 of the government’s new Covid alert levels on Saturday 17 October, with tighter restrictions aimed at bringing down the rate of infection and easing the burden on our local NHS.
Professor Dominic Harrison, Blackburn with Darwen’s Director of Public Health, said:
It’s so brave of Fakir to share his story, and my condolences go to him and his family. Sadly, his story is just one example of a local family that has lost loved ones before their time.
Stories like this should remind us that the virus could affect any of us at any time. We must be vigilant, and we must follow the rules to help limit the spread of the virus.
Now that Lancashire is in Tier 3 of the restrictions, the next month is critical to getting the virus under control.
As Fakir says, please take the virus seriously. It is here in our neighbourhoods and we all have a part to play in getting it under control – and getting back to doing the things we enjoy with the people we love sooner.
The Tier 3 restrictions for Lancashire include:
- People must not socialise with anybody they do not live with, except with those who have formed a support bubble, in any indoor setting or in any private garden or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events.
- People must not socialise in a group of more than six in an outdoor public space such as a park or beach, the countryside, a public garden or a sports venue.
- All pubs and bars must close, unless they are serving substantial meals.
- People should try to avoid travelling outside the Tier 3 area or entering a Tier 3 area, other than for work, education or for caring responsibilities, or to travel through as part of a longer journey.
- People should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK, and others should avoid staying overnight in a Tier 3 area.
- The adult gaming industry, casinos, bingo halls, bookmakers and betting shops, and soft play areas must close.
- Car boot sales are not allowed.
For more information about the Tier 3 restrictions and what they mean for Blackburn with Darwen, visit www.blackburn.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Filed under : coronavirus | covid | Covid alert level | COVID-19