Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Mum faced death twice & was full of life but Covid won..
Tragic Emma survived brain aneurysm and kidney transplant
A NURSE who died from Covid-19 had previously survived a brain aneurysm and kidney transplant.
Emma Vianzon had battled back to good health in the past three years but was laid to rest on Saturday aged just 57 after contracting the deadly virus.
When two l oved ones returned positive tests, the brave mum of three daughters made sure they got the care they needed.
But Emma, from Finaghy, Co Antrim, had become infected too and within three weeks she passed away, killed by a virus she just couldn’t fight.
Her middle daughter Deni, 28, told the Daily Mirror : “Mum started feeling sick around the beginning of October but she stayed home and said she’d see it out.
“When her partner became sick with Covid, they both tried to get better at home but in the end an ambulance had to be called and mum insisted her partner went in it and she stayed home.
“At that stage, she hadn’t told me she’d had a positive test for coronavirus and said she was fine, just taking it easy.
“But the next day she was admitted to hospital. She did her best to stay out of ICU and she told me if she went in she knew she wouldn’t return to us.
“In a way I couldn’t believe it. She’d faced death twice already, she was so full of life and spirit that it seems unreal that she could possibly die.
“When she suffered a brain aneurysm, she fought back and recovered fully.
“We were told at the time her chances of survival were then 50/50 and if she was in the 50% who survived, her chances of a full recovery were just 10%.
“It was scary but she came back to us, fully recovered and bounced back to her old self – back to work, smiling and happy and she even went on to learn to drive and pass her test.
“But then her kidneys failed and she was on dialysis for nearly three years, but she conquered that too.
“It was gruelling for her but she never complained, even though she was on dialysis every other day.
“Then in July she got the amazing news a suitable donor match had been found and she underwent a kidney transplant.
“So there was another fight ahead of her. The major surgery left her weak but determined to get back on her feet and her positive mental attitude and faith kept her going.
“Whi l e sh e was recovering
She said if she ended up in ICU she would die. That was our last conversation EMMA’S DAUGHTER DENI ON LOSING HER MOTHER TO COVID
from the transplant, she started making food and delivering it to friends and neighbours.
“Mum was a nurse and carer from the moment she appeared on this earth.
“The only stipulation for her funeral she made in her will was to be buried in her uniform. “Sadly we can’t even find a picture of mum in her uniform so we hope some of her friends will send us one. “Mum’s profession was not a choice and sh e died a proud and dedicated nurse. “That was her purpose on earth – to care for people, inside or outside of
the hospital. She just loved to look after everyone and she loved to give people gifts, it made her feel good to see them smile.
“She wanted to get back to that, and although we told her not to worry, she knew if she ended up in ICU she would die. That was the last conversation I had with her.”
Sadly Emma did have to be taken into ICU and she was nursed by some of her best friends.
Deni said: “She was so well looked after. I thought, hoped, she’d be OK.
“She couldn’t have been any better looked after and loved.
“I pushed the thoughts of her kidney transplant and brain aneurysm to the back of my mind and did what she’d taught us to do, kept positive.
“We were told she had a 10% chance of survival from Covid but even then we had hope because that was more than she’d had when she got sick the first time. We clung on, she fought hard and the nurses looking after her just kept going.
“Like other families we couldn’t see her or visit, we were able to communicate for a while online but then she was in ICU and that had to stop.
“In the end her poor body finally gave up and she slipped away. She did her best not to go there, but she had no choice and now she’s gone.”
Deni, 28, and her sisters Julie, 32 and 22-year-old Centinia are now left to deal with life without their mum.
Emma moved here from Bataan in the northern region of Luzon in the Philippines in 2002 and found work in her nursing profession at a care home in Antrim.
After a year of saving money, she brought her three daughters to Northern Ireland to live and they have each carved out successful careers – Julie and Deni in finance and Centinia as a make-up artist.
Emma’s career took her to Belfast City Hospital, then Musgrave Park Hospital and most recently the Brooklands nursing home in Antrim.
Deni, who lives in London, said: “Mum had many roles but her most cherished were as a mother and a nurse.
“She packed so much love into this world – my sisters Julie and Centinia and I are shocked and devastated that she’s gone.”
“Mum was all about living and life but she had such a deep faith I don’t think she was afraid of dying.”
Emma’s daughters said a final goodbye to their mother on Saturday but they know she would want her final resting place to be in her native Philippines. Deni said: “She is missed there
TREATMENT Emma in hospital too. Our mum was physically small, less than 5ft but she was a huge personality.
“She blessed ever y room she entered with her grace, presence and glowing smile – dimples included and she made friends with everyone, literally everyone she met.
“Despite all the challenges she was faced with, she made sure she showed composure, faith, hope and strength to those around her and she has left us with strong foundations that we’ll have to rely on now.
“We know from her friends who nursed her at the end that she fought hard right to the last moment but sadly this pandemic is too savage, too fast. God called and wanted his angel back.
“I have veered from anger and outrage to grief and sorrow but today all I feel is calm. I recalled the conversation we had when she said she wasn’t long for this world and something in me just settled.
“I know the devastation will rise in me again, but for now I know we need to find a way to get mum’s ashes to the place of her birth in the Philippines so her family there can mourn her – and help us learn to live without her.
“We have set up a page with Gofundme and we have been overwhelmed with the generous contributions.
“Every ounce of support is greatly and truly appreciated.
“I feel all that love mum gave to so many is surrounding us now. Maybe that’s what it was all about.”
If you would like to donate to Emma’s fund you can go to www.gofundme.com/f/in-lovingmemory-of-emma-vianzon.