Covid-19 claims lives of parents two days apart

Charlene Pieterse from Sunward Park recently lost both her parents to Covid-19 just days apart.

Charlene and her husband, Deon, spoke to the Advertiser about the tragic loss of their loved ones, who they said had “meant everything to them and their siblings”.

Charlene’s parents, Cynthia (73) and Sydney Lloyd (75) died at the Netcare Sunward Park Hospital on January 10 and 12 respectively.

According to Charlene, they picked her parents up at their townhouse in Bartlett on January 1 because her father was not feeling well.

On January 2 they took him to casualty where he was tested for coronavirus but didn’t receive the result until later.

“He was then treated for a lung infection and was discharged. At around 11pm that night we received an SMS stating my dad was Covid-19 positive. We treated him with the medication the doctor prescribed until he got worse on January 5. We had to take him to the hospital again because his oxygen levels were low and he had difficulty breathing,” Charlene said.

On January 8, her asthmatic mom also started coughing and became weak, with her oxygen levels also dropping.

Cynthia too had to be taken to hospital and after two days she died, having succumbed to Covid-19-related complications after being diagnosed with pneumonia.

Deon said because they were not allowed to see Charlene’s father, the doctor was the one who informed him about the sudden death of his wife.

“It broke my heart that we couldn’t console or comfort him,” Charlene said.

” A day before dad died we spoke to him on the phone and were told that he could be discharged, but after talking to the sister at the hospital it was decided to wait another day. Our hope turned into grief when the hospital informed us the next day that he too had died. We are devastated because we thought they would pull through,” Charlene said.

The Pieterse family said Charelen’s parents always heeded health advice. “They always wore their masks and had multiple bottles of sanitiser in their flat and in their car,” Deon said.

Charlene also tested positive for Covid-19 after caring for her parents but only experienced mild symptoms.

Her brother, Gerald, also contracted the disease and is in ICU at the Life Bedford Gardens Hospital on a ventilator. His wife, Deidre, also tested positive after Gerald got sick, but has recovered well.

Charlene said she and her siblings have not had a chance to mourn and grieve together because they are focused on Gerald’s recovery and, due to their increased fear of Covid-19, have settled for video and phone calls to console each other.

“My parents were soul mates and inseparable. They were down to earth, genuine, loveable and caring and would do anything to help others. Everyone who knew them loved them. People in the complex where they lived adored them, with many expressing disbelief at the news of their death,” she said.

Deon couldn’t hold back his tears when he described how remarkable his in-laws were.

“They were two beautiful souls who were loving and welcoming. Sydney was so close to my father, you would think they were brothers. They will be missed dearly. I just hope everyone out there realises this virus is very serious and real,” he said.

Charlene shared that due to her eldest brother still being in the hospital, the family has decided to put the memorial service on hold until he fully recovers. Her parents have since been cremated.

Sydney and Cynthia were married in their 20s on December 18, 1965, and were blessed with three sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren.

They celebrated 55 years together in December – their emerald wedding anniversary.

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