I want my husband’s life to mean something because it meant so much to us. and how fast lives can change
We need people to know how horrific this virus is Grieving widow in plea after family ‘ripped apart’ by Covid
A HEARTBROKEN widow whose husband died of coronavirus is today begging Scots to obey new restrictions after being abused in public by “Covid-iots” intent on defying the rules.
Jan Gillan said her family had been “ripped apart” by the death of Mark, 53, and their three daughters are now living in fear of the second wave threatening to hit the UK within weeks.
The mum told the Record she had been sworn at in a supermarket and belittled – just for asking people to respect social distancing following Mark’s death.
She described the pain of losing her “best pal” and husband of 23 years as First Minister Nicola
Sturgeon announced a raft of new measures in a bit to combat the spread yesterday.
Jan, 55, said: “If speaking out can make a difference and make more people take this seriously, then it’s worth it. I want my husband’s life to mean something because it meant so much to us.
“We need people to know how horrific this virus is and how fast lives can change. It’s still here.”
Mark, who worked for 30 years in a soap factory, first displayed symptoms of the virus in March and called medics for advice before self-isolating.
He remained at home in
Glasgow’s Carntyne with Jan, twins Ebony and Hope, 20, and daughter Brenna, 19, for two weeks before his condition deteriorated dramatically.
Within a day of being admitted to hospital, the dad – who suffered from asthma and pernicious anaemia – was on a ventilator in intensive care.
He died less than three weeks later, on April 27.
Primary school support worker Jan said: “Mark lived for us, his girls, friends and family. He was a Celtic man through and through and just a lovely man.
“We were just a normal stereotypical family. We followed the rules. We worked and we came home. If this can happen to us it can happen to anybody.
“Mark made soap for a living and his factory had to stay open. He didn’t get a letter to shield. He obviously wasn’t considered high enough on the criteria, which makes me so angry.
“In a matter of 24 hours of being admitted to hospital he was on a ventilator in a high dependency ward. Before we knew it he was in a coma. It all happened so fast.
“The first Clap for Carers he was here with us giving the loudest clap in the street. The next he was in ICU.
“Every four hours the hospital phoned with an update. You had to go through the protocol each time before they could give you information but you just wanted to scream out, ‘Is my husband OK or did he die?’ It was horrific.
“We are traumatised now by the
phone ringing. In the end we weren’t able to touch him and hold him or speak to him. He had told me he didn’t want to die.
“It has ripped out whole family apart.”
The family were inundated with support after Mark’s death and created a memorial to him outside their home with the help of loves ones. But as they struggled with their grief over the coming weeks they became infuriated by those intent on breaking regulations.
Jan finally decided to speak out after warnings that Covid cases are again set to soar in Scotland and the UK.
She said: “We don’t socialise and I only go out once a week. But when people come too close and I’ve asked them to keep their distance
I have been verbally abused. I’ve been screamed at and shouted at because I’ve simply asked someone to ‘step back’.
“I’ve explained to people that we’re oversensitive and that my husband died of Covid to justify what I’m saying, which we shouldn’t have to do, and been abused again.
“One man told me I was ‘crazy’ and there was no reason to be doing this. It’s so infuriating.
“We’re sick of seeing people making fun of Covid. The girls were upset seeing posts on social media which turn it into a joke. There is no way you would make fun of cancer.
“My daughters are living the rest of their lives without their dad. He was my best pal. We’ve had to celebrate Father’s Day without him and all my youngest daughterer wanted on her birthday was a textxt from her dad.
“I feel like society is just goingng back to normal yet the girls andd I are still terrified of it.”
Jan described the care herer husband received from the NHS as “outstanding” and said we can onlynly repay our health service for itsts dedication by following the neww Government advice.
She said: “I think Nicola Sturgeonon is doing the right thing. She’s justust fighting the fight to slow this down.wn.
“We keep saying thanks to thehe NHS but it’s meaningless if we don’t follow the rules.
“People have said we’re being toooo personal but it is personal to us and the millions of loved ones lefteft grieving like my family.”