Been thinking a lot about those who have not been able to be with their loved ones when they died, and about those who fear it. Both my father and sister died in hospital away from all of us who loved them. So, here's a thread which I hope might be helpful.
#COVID19 1/9

When my sister Kate was murdered, she was on the other side of the world, far from everyone who knew & loved her. She was with a journalist she'd just met when she was shot and with medical staff when they put her under to try to remove the bullet and save her life
#COVID19 2/9

Those incredible staff in a hospital in Mogadishu did their very best, as they did every day. They comforted her before she was sedated for the operation. I know this as a week or so after she died, sitting on my sister's veranda with my mother, brother and aunts,
#COVID19 3/9

we spoke to a nurse, also called Kate, about our Kate's arrival at the hospital, her state of mind and what had happened to our Kate. And we discovered that Nurse Kate had been with her: our Kate had not been alone.
#COVID19 4/9

I've never met Nurse Kate even 15 years on. But I remember her voice so well. We discovered how much this person cared. The comfort of that conversation has stayed with me, even as I lie awake at night, distressed for my sister.
#COVID19 5/9

So, for those of you suffering as you fear for the lives of those you love, as the idea of dying alone torments you, especially when and if it happens, I wanted to offer some comfort, if I can.
#COVID19 6/9

If your loved one is in hospital they are not alone. You may not be able to be with them, but they are being cared for by astonishing people who really do care and understand what their patients are going through, because it's their professional life.
#COVID19 7/9

Of course I will always remember not being with my sister when she was shot and when she died, but she had incredible people with her: she was not alone. The surgeon cared and the nurses cared. She was #NotAlone
#covid19 8/9

I've tried not to allow typos in this thread, but there must be some.... I just hope it's comprehensible anyway.... 9/9