Wife of man who died of Covid-19 begs the public to wear masks

The heartbroken wife of a man who died with Covid-19 just days ago has pleaded with people to wear face masks to help save lives.

Jeni Pim, whose husband Nigel, 51, died in Waterford on January 14 from complications related to Covid-19, said she wanted to speak as soon after her death to encourage people to follow public health guidelines.

“Nigel was a great man, he was kind and generous, he wore his mask from the beginning because he wanted to protect everyone else because that was the kind of man he was,” he told Ryan Tubridy in The Late Late Show.

He was such a selfless person. By wearing his mask, which is what we were asked to do from the beginning, he thought he was doing his part to save someone else’s life.

“And that’s what I’m here for, I just want someone to look at this and say ‘You know what? I’m going for a walk with my friend tomorrow, maybe I’ll wear my mask when I do that. , because I don’t want to see that friend for two weeks and get a message telling him that they are on a ventilator at the hospital. This virus kills the people we love. ”

In 2010, Nigel donated one of his kidneys to his father, Alan, who spent Christmas Day with him and Jeni, and their parents.

Jeni, a teacher at Ballymaloe Cooking School, said it was a wonderful occasion.

“We had been very careful, specifically approaching Christmas because we wanted to have Christmas day with our family … we did everything we could to make sure we got to that day safely and we had the most beautiful Christmas day,” he said.

Nigel felt bad and wore his mask when he was not eating, but on Valentine’s Day, he felt worse and they contacted the doctor, who advised him to get tested for Covid-19.

Jeni said: “It went downhill. He was still part of the family, doing everything we were doing, he was very tired.

He never showed outwardly that he really felt very sick, but I knew from him, I knew him since he was 16 … I knew he was not well.

“We were going to the test center and I squeezed his hand and said ‘you’re not very well, I’m very worried about you.’

Nigel was later admitted to the hospital and Jeni remembered squeezing his hand before entering and saying, ‘I love you, everything will be fine.’ You’re going to the right place. ‘

She said she expected to see him in a few days, but on New Years Day, Jeni was told that Nigel was admitted to intensive care and then placed on a ventilator.

He never got to send a message to his family.

Jeni praised the frontline healthcare workers who cared for her husband, but on January 14, a consultant called her on the phone and said, “I’m so sorry, there was a complication … it’s catastrophic.”

She said: “Hear those words, about someone with whom you have spent most of your life and who, although you knew he was ill, you hoped you could see him again.

“They said there was nothing they could do and if you and your kids would like to come in and be with him when we turn off the fan, we will help you do it.”

Nigel died later that day. He was buried last Saturday.

Jeni obtained clear proof of Covid-19 and obtained authorization from her doctor to travel to Dublin for the interview.

Nigel donated one of his kidneys to his father, Alan, in 2011, after his kidney function had deteriorated to just 16%.

He said that while it was a great undertaking, both psychic and mental, he did not hesitate.

“I tried not to think too much about it until all the pre-tests were done,” he said.

“Our lives were put on hold for a year before the operation. But he would have done anything for me, so … ”

Nigel had to lose 20% of his body weight before he was considered ready for the operation.