Daughter of Chatteris shop worker tells of heartache after mum dies alone in hospital from coronavirus

The daughter of Chatteris’s well-loved Postmistress Ramila Karia has spoken of the gut-wrenching grief suffered by the family after she died from covid-19 following a 30-day fight in intensive care.

Reshma Karia has spoken of the heart wrenching moment she and her father Satish and brother, Sunit, were forced to say goodbye to her beloved mum via video call because lockdown rules meant they were not allowed to be at her hospital bedside.

Reshma recounted watching her mum be taken to Peterborough City Hospital in an ambulance days after she had fallen ill with the coronarvirus.

She said: “Coronavirus was so fresh in March so we were not 100 per cent that's what she had. We called 111 several times and followed the advice until Mum's breathing got so difficult we had no choice but to call an ambulance. The day the ambulance came was the last time we all saw her, we never ever thought it would be the last time we would see her.

“Then not being able to visit her in hospital was a massive struggle and a heart wrenching time for all of us. I was not willing to give up trying and I resorted to trying to get inside the hospital numerous times, emailing the NHS and the MP begging to see my mum.

“It was an absolutely dreadful time not knowing each day what was going to come next. Our hardest moment was saying goodbye to her over a video call.

“She fought for her life for 30 days in ICU. The nurses and doctors were shocked and amazed at the fight she had put up. It must have been very difficult for her, however my mum was a strong woman and we will always remember that she tried and never gave up for us.

“At first it did not seem real what was happening, even now I feel like this has not happened. It is extremely challenging to absorb such information.

“The lockdown and distancing process made it tremendously hard and excruciating. Not being able to meet friends or family made it worst. The loneliness we felt during our grieving period couldn’t get any worse.

“The grieving for my beautiful mum will never leave as I am was close and attached to her -I still feel she is here with me.”

Ramila, who was born and brought up in Uganda with her six brothers and one sister, was well-loved within the community of Chatteris and the outpouring of support the family received following her death last month has been overwhelming.

Reshma, who said they don't where Ramila picked up the virus, which she also contracted, said: “My mum’s legacy is unbelievably special and unique, the way she has touched so many hearts and souls of people that I didn’t even know she had, not only in the Chatteris town but in our own community in Peterborough and around the country.

“The amount of cards and flowers not only at home but outside the Post Office in Chatteris has shown us that the love is endless. I am not bragging but we have had over 2,000 messages.”

A fundraising page has seen almost £1,200 raised towards a memorial bench and tree for Ramila,who moved to the UK in 1970 and settled in Leicester where she met and married Satish in 1982 and since then the pair have been inseparable.

Reshma said: “My mum and dad had a wonderful, caring, loving relationship it was unique and I always thought when I am older I want to be exactly like these two. They would always be smiling and laughing together. “

She said: “My Mum was always full of life, bubbly, happy, encouraging and always guiding us to be positive, responsible and decent human beings. Her priority always revolved around our happiness and well-being.

“My mum was my best friend, the bond we had was special and unique. She was my absolute life. I would always get her ready for her social events and we would always be matching most of the time in terms of clothing and accessories. I would love doing her make up and dolling her up for Indian shows she went to with my dad.

“Most people measure their ‘success’ by what materialistic things they have achieved. My mum was the total opposite. Her ‘success’ was spreading love and kindness and being a decent human being. That to me is the best attribute she had and I hope to emulate that.”

Ramila’s funeral had to be kept small because of the lockdown, with just close family and the situation was made worse as lockdown meant the religious prayers, normally said following a death, had to be done via zoom for 13 days. Only 100 people are able to join a Zoom conference at anyone time which meant there were queues of people waiting to join the daily prayer sessions.

The funeral ceremony was shared with the community via video-link and was watched by 100s, both in Chatteris and in Peterborough where the family live.

Reshma said: “We are currently building on my Mum’s legacy where a tree in her name will planted in Chatteris and a church ceremony in remembrance will be held when the lockdown has been lifted.

“As a family we are so grateful for having had the opportunity of spending our best years with the best person in the world. Me and my brother will always do her proud.

My Dad had the best wife, she lived a loving life and was not suffering pain as she left us. The void she has left will never be filled. We miss her every second of the day. ”

The family are also planning to set up a fundraising page for Thalassemia - an hereditary blood disorder that Ramila had and other members of the family suffer from.