A hospital worker from Bartley Green has shared the reality of losing a loved one during the coronavirus pandemic, being left heartbroken when her own mother sadly died after contracting COVID-19.Â
Sue Howe, 57 from Selly Oak, had underlying health issues and became ill in March. After ten days, she was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham where her daughter Gemma Howe, 24, is a Health Care Assistant.
Sue – who was also a carer in a residential facility for people with dementia until she had to leave due to ill health while undergoing chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma – battled the coronavirus for 4 weeks before passing away in hospital on Friday 17th April.
Of her mother, Gemma said: “She was the most caring, loving and strongest woman ever. Each and every day we miss her and our hearts break more each day.”
Gemma recognises that the pandemic is taking its toll on families unable to be together and is thankful that she at least got to spend some time with her mother as she works at the hospital.
However, with other family members unable to visit and only six people allowed at Sue’s funeral, Gemma feels the family have not been able to grieve and remember her mom in the way they need to.
Gemma said that the basic funeral, with just the limit of six attendees, was “absolutely heartbreaking” and is determined to ensure herself, her children and the rest of her family have the chance to say a proper goodbye to their beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend.
She has set up a fundraising page for anyone who wishes to contribute to help make this possible: “We are planning to have a burial of mom’s ashes and a head stone or plaque put into place when it is safe for all our family and friends to attend and do so.
“It gives us a second chance to say goodbye and do it all properly with all mom’s friends and family there.
“[…] we want to be able to make it the most beautiful memory of her possible. It would mean a lot if any of our friends and family could donate even a £1 to help towards this, it will be massively appreciated and we will be forever grateful. It will be so nice if can have a memorial for her that we can visit and make look beautiful for a beautiful woman.”
- To support Gemma’s fundraiser visit her JustGiving page
- If you have suffered a loss and need support, please visit our Community Support Directory and select ‘Loss & Bereavement’ in the ‘Service Provided’ box
