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Devan lost the battle against the disease

He bravely fought the disease until the end. So says Annie Naidoo whose husband Devan (37) was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease in January last year, He sadly lost the battle on 1 July while en route to Durban. “He never stopped fighting the disease and for his family,” a heartbroken Annie said. According …

He bravely fought the disease until the end.

So says Annie Naidoo whose husband Devan (37) was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease in January last year, He sadly lost the battle on 1 July while en route to Durban.

“He never stopped fighting the disease and for his family,” a heartbroken Annie said.

According to her Devan fell ill on 21 June with flu and although he was in a lot of pain, he only asked to be taken to hospital the next day. “His blood pressure and heart rate was very low and he went in and out of consciousness while seven doctors tried to stabilize him for the next four-and-a-half hours. Devan was eventually admitted to hospital with pneumonia and lung infection,” Annie said. She said he must have realised his health was deteriorating very fast and called his children, Andrea (15) and Anniston (11) in one by one. “He was receiving oxygen and couldn’t breath on his own. He showed me how to do online banking and said I have to be strong.”

Annie said her husband slowly started getting better again and was discharged a week later. “I had to go to work on 29 June but I was very worried until he called and said he is being discharged. On Tuesday he had a lot more energy and even cooked our evening meal. He didn’t complain about anything and shared a last meal with his son.”

According to Annie, Devan has been asking to go to Durban for a long time and they decided to leave the next day. “Whatever he asked for, I gave it to him because I know life is very short.” They left early on Wednesday, 1 July and Annie said he drove all the way. “We had such a good time in the car. We were laughing and talking and Devan was in good spirits. The song Bless the rains down in Africa played and he said it must be a wake-up call for me. When we reached Montrose, he suddenly dashed off to the bathroom. I went after him. He was vomiting blood and just before he collapsed, he said ‘somebody help me’. His head fell on my shoulder and I knew he was gone. He died in my arms.”

An ambulance was called and while they waited, Annie said she and her children said their final goodbyes. At 11:30am, he was declared dead by the paramedics.

“We would have been married for 16 years on 17 July. Both the children will celebrate their birthday on 21 July.”

Annie thanks the community for their love, support and donations. “Everything was kept in a trust fund for a kidney transplant later this year. I don’t know what will happen with the money.”

Annie said she finds comfort in the fact that she was with him until the end.

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