Remembering those we lost

My father died of COVID in 2020

My dearest mum whose greatest love was her family died alone. Her funeral was sparse and unworthy of her and I could not attend due to restrictions and that will always be my sadness.

Me and my sister sadly lost our amazing mum on 06/01/2021 and that was the day our world was lost forever. That moment saying goodbye will never be erased from our memory.

Losing her was so quick how this awful disease took her away from us and her grandson. She now has a beautiful granddaughter that she never got to meet.

We feel these song lyrics fit how we feel.

(The family also shared the words of a song that speaks for them. Song lyrics are not reproduced on this archive page.)

Our mum was sadly hit with the awful virus the day after Christmas 2020. She genuinely thought this could have been the flu as she had experienced the flu several times in her life. She had taken a test on the 3rd January 2021 as her symptoms were getting worse. A day later she had not been answering her phone, so my sister had gone round with some flu remedies and by this point our mum was not moving but had her eyes open and kept looking at my sister. My sister had called an ambulance which had taken over an hour to appear and they took her to hospital explaining to my sister that she was really poorly. (I had just had COVID so it was on my final day of isolating) . The whole evening we couldn't stop but worry letting the family know where she was. The following day after 1000 calls we got a call to say that she had been doing really well through the night, which they had thought she was not going to make it. With a sigh of relief we were so happy to hear this. 4 Hours later we got that phone call to say that she was not going to make it. The hospital refused us to go and say goodbye but after a numerous of amount of phone calls from our Uncle who lives in Scotland telling them that she is the only parent we have they finally gave in and said we would need to cover up in PPE. After being at the hospital 20 mins later she was gone. 22 hours in hospital and she was gone. Our hearts will never be the same again.

We miss her more and more each day.

I lost my rock. My grandad had always been my oldest best friend (having lost both my parents at a relatively young age he was my support and I was his) and confidant in January 2021. He was 96 in physical years old however his soul and personality were way younger.

We spoke at least twice a day about anything (people would never believe our conversations lol). We spoke one day in January 21 and I rushed to his flat as he sounded dreadful, I called the ambulance and was shocked when the ambulance lady said she suspected covid he’d contracted it in hospital in between his second dose of vaccine. I spoke to him on the phone at the ward and he said “I’ve caught that pandemic thing Jenny and I’m so angry, but I’m in the best place and comfortable”.

Two days later they’d called me to say his breathing had reached a point that they couldn’t help him any further. He said to them “call Jenny and tell her that I’ve had a wonderful life and have lots of lovely happy memories. And if it’s my time to go I’m happy to” that just sums him up… he didn’t want me to go to the hospital to be with him (although technically I couldn’t as was in isolation after seeing him-the hospital did offer me to go) he said I don’t want Jenny to come and see this place.

Such an incredible inspiration to me and my family…. Gone but never ever forgotten Grandad!! Love you now and always xxxx

My partner went to bed feeling bit sleepy that was all, due to him having ulcerative colitis it was normal for him to have upset tummy.

Me & our 3 kids, aged 14, 6, and 3 all slept downstairs as was back forward to toilet, that morning of Monday 22nd February 2021 at 8.32am. I asked if he was ok. He was asking for drink as felt dehydrated, I checked his temperature, it was normal.

One hour later I went spoke to him struggling stay awake. I called the doctor and said there was something not right, checked the temperature again – was 33.3 Centigrade – then something made me call doctor again explaining everything. They told me phone 999 so came off the phone to ambulance, shouted from other room I'm getting your bag ready you're going to hospital, my partner shouted no I'm fine.

As I walked into bedroom he took his last breath, his eyes were open. I called his name. He was gone. I remember screaming for help. My daughter came into the room she was only 14, I told her get help while I did CPR. My old child tried CPR & my neighbours tried. Within 10 mins the ambulance was there and they told me they couldn't save him. It was the worst day of my life.

Mum, myself, and my husband were all admitted to hospital with Covid in October 2020. I almost lost my husband. I never saw my mum again.

My husband of 27 years Stephen Arthur llewelyn Hughes passed away on the 13/11/21 from Covid 19.

I couldn't visit or see him, I never got to say goodbye and how much I loved him 😢 I have now been diagnosed with breast cancer and trying to grieve and fight my cancer is so hard, I feel as if I'm in a battle but all I can hope is things will get better.

My wonderful dad passed away from Covid-19 on 28/09/2020. He had been admitted to hospital two weeks prior with a water infection and we had fully expected him to be home within a few days. Sadly he caught Covid and the next time we saw him was the day he left us. Yes, my mum and I were lucky enough to be with him as he passed, albeit barely recognisable in full PPE. My dad was still talking when we arrived and his first words to us were 'where have you been?'

My life was shattered. My dad was my rock and nothing will ever convince me that it was his time to go. I think maybe that's the hardest thing to love with. I feel strongly now that I'm my dad's 'representative'. I'm trying to make him proud but I will miss him till the day I am gone. Miss you dad and love you always. XxX

Mummy died with covid and we are still devastated, she was our Queen, we miss her so much.

I cry all the time ,she is a great loss to her five children, 10 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren who all loved her so much. Mummy was my inspiration and always will be loved and much missed 💔💔

My Dad died of Covid on Feb 8th, 2021, after bravely fighting for 26 days in hospital. I caught Covid from him and was in an isolation ward in the same building as Dad: I was released a week before he died.

I was too weak to visit him to say goodbye, and could barely speak due to the impact of Covid pneumonia and pleurisy, so phone conversations were brief. I don’t remember much of that time, or the three months after, but my brief flashback memories of that Covid ward, of the suffering I heard, are strong and painful.

That experience, plus losing my Dad to the same disease, caused Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I want me back. I want to feel safe again. I want to remember what ‘happy’ feels like. I’m determined to get there. I’ve just started trauma therapy & I feel more confident now that I can find peace again. I am forever changed, as we all are, by my family’s experiences with Covid, and I accept that. But I look forward to feeling safe and content again.

So 2020 was when my life changed forever.

My Dad passed away on the 10th November followed by my Mom on the 18th November 8 days apart 💔 both from covid my heart was broken into a thousand pieces and my life will never be the same again

God bless my Mom & Dad I will love you forever

My Brian had a fall resulting in being taken to hospital with a broken hip and arm. He had been fit and healthy.

I kept getting mixed messages about his progress. I was refused to speak to him, as it would have been their phone. I pleaded with them and offered to buy one. He had delirium due to anaesthetic and my voice would have helped. He died alone. He acquired Covid in hospital on 6th April 2020.

My heart is broken.

I can't reach the bus-stop. My daily walk is 150m. In one way I lost 'The World', though I can still find my way in through the imagination.

My mam got Covid last year. Mam only lasted the night. Mam was 90 and she was amazing.

Nine days after my brother sadly passed away with Covid. That was heartbreaking. My Mam was named Doris, my brother Arthur, it was very hard as when my brother was told he was dying he said my mam and him could have a double funeral. I would look after them again. I miss them so much xxxx

My wonderful husband of 41 years was snatched away from me at age 66 -much too early. He had just started thinking about retirement from his work as a life celebrant and we were looking forward to spending perhaps 20-25 more years together. Quality time, now our family have all grown and flown. We are devastated beyond words and still can't fully accept that he has gone... I'm broken in pieces. So much pain and heartache.

He couldn't cope with the suffocation that came with using CPAP and then he died while in a medically induced coma after 4 weeks on a ventilator. We did not get to say good bye. I did not get to hold his hand and offer comfort while he struggled. He needed me with him for comfort. They denied us that. Horrendous... My daughter made this video with her family.

They were my pops (Dad) final words he spoke to my mum and I…………Let Me Go, God Bless! He could no longer cope with the masks and the feeling of suffocating. One day he was eating fruit which we chopped up for him to have when we visited. The next day we were saying our goodbyes.

He fought and he battled until he could bear no more. He was just about to start retirement with my mum and in the blink of an eye he was being taken away from us, never expected and so sudden. It’s unimaginable and doesn’t feel real. We miss you so much, our forever rock and our forever hero for trying to keep with us xx💙xx

I cannot express in words the overwhelming pain I and my 2 daughters feel at the loss of an amazing husband & father. Justin was a larger than life character with a zest for life full of fun and laughter, life will never be the same without him. We are truly heart broken.

He died on the 11th April 2020 after a 2-week battle with Covid. He was a healthy 47 year old with no preexisting health problems getting our heads around that has been extremely challenging. We were unable to be with him in the hospital due to restrictions, and continually play in our minds what we would have said if we had known he was not coming home to us. Grief has no time frame and washes over you in waves, we continue to take things a day at a time.

I lost my mum & uncle in 2018. The pandemic hit, as we all know, in 2019. I moved from the city I’d lived in for many years in 2021. I was trying to be hopeful and believe that the pandemic would end. My new home is not what I expected, there are lots of problems here. I have felt suicidal. I miss my lost family and I miss my everyday routines pre pandemic. Condolences to all who have lost loved ones in the pandemic.

A poem written in memory of my grandad who died from Covid after being hospitalised with pneumonia. Recorded by Muddy Feet Poetry.

My brother Bill, 1.11.63 - 27.9.21

After an all night vigil, My youngest brother Jim and I made a last visit to Bill's bedside at 8.20 am the next morning. Bill Died in my arms rapidly in ITU just as his wife, his children and family members left the hospital. The shock of how sudden the monitors alarmed and then watching him die on the monitor will stay with me forever. The attending nurse was so cold the way she announced "he's dying right now" and then "he's gone".

The day after the funeral our household went down with Covid and my husband was hospitalised for a week. I was sick and petrified that my husband never come home, like my brother.

Words cannot express the depth of sadness and grief I feel for losing my inspirational, loving and gentle dad to this horrible virus in July 2021. I am blessed and grateful that I knew what it felt like to be loved unconditionally by my dad. He may have passed but he lives on in me and my children. He will never be forgotten for his kindness shone through until the very last moments and his last breath, concerned for what I would experience in the moments after he passed. Dad was truly one in a billion, putting his family first even at this time of great need. Was my honour to be able to hold his hand and to be with him in that moment. Love you dad and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” God bless you ❤️

I got Long Covid in April 2020 and haven't been the same since. My husband has been my rock and my kids have been great, but I grieve for the person I was. I wasn't able to return to my job, and I'm not the life of the party I used to be. My friend tells me that better things are around the corner, and I hope that's true

I got Long Covid in the first wave, and haven't been the same since. Even now I struggle with brain fog and can only work a few hours a week, and the doctors haven't been able to help. Not sure when or if I'll be better again.

Just as I was coming out the hospice, 20 minutes after my mother had just passed, I got a phone call from the hospital while I was walking up the corridor.

They wanted to talk about my sister. She'd got Covid just a few days before and passed away.

The hardest thing for me was not seeing my nephew Jonathan who was born just after lockdown. We used Facetime but it just wasn't the same, and I still think about the time together that we lost to be a family.