Covid-19 took my last few weeks with my dad

Maria De Lourdes Swanepoel, Benoni A/H resident, decided to share her family’s story relating to her father’s last few weeks of his life in the midst of dealing with the pandemic regulations.

Manuel Dias Homem de Gouveia, who also battled with prostate cancer for the last eight years, died on June 28 this year.

Many South Africans struggled and are still struggling during this pandemic, but somehow Swanepoel and her family have managed to stay strong.

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Manuel lived in Boksburg ever since he relocated to South Africa from Madeira where he worked at ERPM as a mine official from 1950 to 1989.

He had three children, eldest daughter Maria do Carmo Schutte (Carmen Schutte), his son Antonio Joaquim Homem de Gouveia (AJ Homem de Gouveia) and youngest daughter Maria de Lourdes Swanepoel (Mary-Lou Swanepoel).

Manuel was not ready for the battles of Covid-19 to be added into the mix. Fortunately, he didn’t contract the virus, but the struggles of life, doctor visits and the scare of possible contraction were not what he nor the family had in mind.

“The cancer had advanced this year. When Covid-19 rolled around it was a little harder on him as it was suggested that he doesn’t visit the normal hospitals or doctor,” explained Mary.

“He was disappointed and said Covid-19 would kill him because the doctor could not treat him as usual, which was not true, he had faith in his doctors at Clayton in Alberton.”

Manuel had to go twice to Sunward Park Hospital two weeks before he died.

“He was rushed by ambulance to Sunward Park Hospital but could not stay there. The doctors said it was not safe due to the pandemic, so myself and my brother brought him back home.

“On June 26, he could not breath, so he was rushed again to hospital but as he was on his way to Sunward Park they informed us that they would not admit him,” said Mary.

Manuel was then sent to Life The Glynnwood Hospital which also couldn’t take him in.

He finally went to Lynwood in Benoni where he died that Sunday at 9.45am. 

“It was sad as we could not see him. That night I dropped off his clothes and spoke to the doctor but I was not permitted to go in. So I spoke to the doctor and handed over his clothes in the parking lot. My sister phoned the nurse to hopefully speak to my dad but he could not talk. It was really hard and sad that there were no family members with him when he went to heaven,” Mary explained.

“We were then told his body was sent to Dove Benoni. That Monday I went to Dove Benoni only to be told that he was actually in Dove Springs, it really was just a crazy and hard time.”

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Most of the churches Manuel attended such as St Dominic Boksburg or Our Lady of Fatima Brentwood Park were closed due to Covid-19.

“We went to Springs with a family of only 50 people, which was the allowed limit of attendance at the time, to hold the funeral.

“My brother was the last to see my dad. My sister managed to see him the Thursday before and because of work the last time I saw him was the Sunday before he passed, so almost a week before he died.

“My dad was an interesting man, always loveable and willing to learn new things. Hence why he was on Facebook, WhatsApp and had an email. He always gave advice, especially when it came to vitamins so that, in his words, ‘you will survive Covid-19’.

“He was known and loved by many people, especially his friends and family. We are going to miss him more than we could ever explain, but we are happy he is no longer suffering,” she concluded.