Family raising cash for ‘lifeline’ iPads on wards
IN MEMORY OF THEIR FATHER WHO DIED OF CORONAVIRUS
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A FAMILY who lost their “doting” dad to Covid-19 say the availability of iPads was a lifeline in his last days – and they want others to have the benefit of the devices.
Beena Shah last spoke to her dad, Bharatkumar, on his birthday – January 14 – the day he was taken into intensive care at Glenfield.
After spending 23 days in hospital, Mr Shah, who had no underlying health conditions, died at the age of 68.
He leaves behind his wife, four daughters, a son and nine grandchildren.
“We weren’t ready to let go of him,” Beena said.
Growing up, Beena, 40, said, she and her siblings looked up to their dad as their “hero and protector”.
To Beena’s severely disabled brother, Bhikhu, he was a “best friend” as well as a dad and carer.
Mr Shah was a bus driver for Arriva and was well-known and loved in the profession, as well as being a valued member of the Unite trade union.
Beena said: “He loved people he made friends with everyone and he helped anybody.
“Whatever he took, he gave back twice as much and we were so proud of him.”
The family is raising money to give back to the hospital, where they said he received amazing support and treatment.
While Mr Shah was in the hospital, the Leicester family connected with him through video calls using the iPads which were available on the ward.
Despite him being sedated while he was in intensive care, the nurses made a special effort so his family could spend time with him virtually. They also allowed Beena and her sisters to drop off a CD player to share music and prayers with their father. They have now donated it to the ward for other patients and families to use.
Beena said: “He was on his own all the time but nurses and staff were like a family.
“There weren’t many iPads available on the ward, but they let us FaceTime him and we were able to just be with him and we would sing to him or pray with him or just chat.”
On his birthday, nurses on the ward helped Mr Shah open cards and gifts from the family.
During his last moments, the family were able to visit him to say goodbye.
“That day, we saw so many people cry – we saw staff cry, we saw nurses cry.
“Covid has broken my family, but it’s breaking the staff, too,” Beena said.
“Until you physically see what it’s like on an ICU ward during Covid, you won’t understand it.”
Following his death, the family has received numerous messages of thanks, and love for their father, including one from a patient who was in the bed next to him in hospital.
Beena said: “She told my mum our conversations with him would bring her to tears and that their music and prayers gave her strength. The iPads are like a lifeline for families like us.”
The family has started crowdfunding to raise money to present the hospital with more iPads so families like them can connect with their loved ones.
They will also donate pens and stationery to the ward – a nod to their father who was known to offer a pen to every new friend he made.
A statement from the family said: “The Shah family would like to thank all staff who were involved in Bharatkumar’s care at Glenfield Hospital. You have cared with your hearts and are angels in disguise.”
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