A tragic care worker’s daughter and granddaughter smile into the camera in a cherished family photograph she clutched for comfort as she died of coronavirus.
Sue Cairns, 58, lost an 18-day battle with the disease after initially appearing to have beaten it and being discharged from hospital.
Her last text to daughter Laura read: “I’m not quite there yet but I’ve got this. I love you all so much.”
Laura was called in 11 hours after Sue was readmitted and rapidly went downhill.
The 29-year-old said: “By the time I got to the ward, she was gone. I was allowed to say goodbye in full protective clothing, including a hazmat suit, but I couldn’t hug or kiss her.
“She was still holding the picture of me and my 15-month-old daughter Marissa.
“She passed away surrounded by staff who told me she was smiling when she died because one of the nurses told her I was on my way.
"We were so close and talked every day. I’m so devastated I don’t know how I’m still standing.”
Sue, of Manston, Kent, is one of 219 NHS and frontline care staff who have died during the pandemic.
Laura said she was terrified of catching Covid-19 after suffering a bout of pneumonia at Christmas and only left her home to go to work.
She added that her mum complained about a lack of PPE at work and got a friend to make her a fabric mask.
Laura, of Margate, said: “Mum had been a carer for four years and loved her job.
"She was such a warm, loving person. When she first heard about coronavirus she was pretty scared because she hadn’t been well.
“She stopped going out except to work because she needed to pay her bills. My aunt started delivering food.
“She did everything right. She knew she was vulnerable because of her age and was worried about levels of PPE at the home, so got a friend to make her a fabric mask.”
Laura, who was planning her wedding to fiancé Sean, claims the Government abandoned care homes amid the pandemic and lockdown measures were lifted too early.
She said: “I feel so angry about all of it. Carers haven’t been getting all the PPE they need and the Government isn’t meeting testing requirements. Some care homes haven’t even seen a test.
“Some people are still being stupid and not taking it seriously enough, going to the beach and wanting pubs to reopen. This is serious. Covid-19 can get you and you won’t see it coming.”
Sue, who Laura described as “mischievous”, was a keen motorcyclist and bikers are expected to form an escort for her funeral.
Laura said: “I have not even been able to see mum at the funeral home because of the virus and the service won’t take place until sometime in June because there is a backlog. The funeral directors aren’t going to dress her because of the risk but have said they will put some clothes in the coffin.
“We have chosen her leather jacket, favourite black jeans and her Dr Martens with painted flowers on.
“Mum was such a funny person and she’d always try to make me laugh by doing silly things like skipping down the street. She doted on Marissa and would spoil her. When she was six months my mum bought a motorised mini-motorcycle for her.
“Mum had spent a lot of her life doing what other people wanted and not doing what she wanted to do but had finally got out of the habit.
"She started going out more, got back in touch with an old friend and was going to motorcycle rallies, camping and to see rock bands.”
Sue, who lived alone, worked her final shift on April 9 and fell ill days later. Struggling to breath, she called her GP, who told her to rest.
On April 14, she was taken to the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, where she spent 10 days. She was sent home after her oxygen levels improved. But on April 26, she was rushed back to hospital with breathing difficulties.
Laura said: “I visited her two days before she died. I had to wear full PPE, including a visor and mask, and mum’s face was covered by a respirator.
“She said she felt rough but was telling me she was going to get better because her oxygen levels were improving. That night she messaged to tell me she loved us all and I never saw her alive again.”
