Helen O’Sullivan was simply 61 when she misplaced her life to Covid-19, after spending seven tough weeks on a ventilator at King’s College Hospital.
“Kind and nurturing” Helen sadly handed away on March 3 after spending over two months in hospital, making her the second member of her household to have died of the virus.
Helen, who was initially from Cyprus however grew up in Peckham, earlier than later shifting to Dulwich, was a proficient hair stylist.
She had additionally hung out working as a bartender at South London pubs and as a college dinner woman.
She was cherished by punters within the pub, kids within the faculty, and all of the shoppers whose coiffure desires she made actuality, however was additionally very family-oriented.
She was her grandson’s finest pal, and spent 15 years caring for her aged mom who suffers with dementia.
“She met my dad, Patrick, when she was 15. They obtained married very younger, and so they had me and my brother Ryan very younger,” mentioned Helen’s daughter Della O’Sullivan, 38.
“They have been working dad and mom, and we had a beautiful household family. She was only a pretty, pretty particular person.
“For my son Jayden, who is 16 years outdated, she was actually his finest pal.
“She later stop work, and began taking care of her mom who has superior dementia. We all have lived collectively as a household for about 15 years, taking care of my grandmother and supporting my mum in that.”
Helen, Patrick and their grandson Jayden, now 16
(Image: Della O’Sullivan)
Helen’s caring nature manifested itself in each single space of her life. She was a vegan for 30 years, “since earlier than it was ‘in’ to be a vegan,” Della mentioned, however she was additionally typically captivated with caring for animals and nature.
Della mentioned: “When she was a little or no woman, she stopped consuming meat as quickly as she realised what meat was, that it got here from animals.
“She had an amazing quantity of respect for all dwelling beings, even down to the smallest bugs. I discovered movies on her telephone of her giving sugar water to bees, filming ladybirds, all kinds. She was very form and nurturing.”
When Della was a toddler within the Eighties, Helen labored three jobs to help her household: she was a hairdresser, a college dinner woman and labored behind the bar in an area pub.
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“She was a really profitable hairdresser, she gained L’Oreal Awards and all kinds – she was a implausible stylist,” Della mentioned.
“Everyone that knew her reached out to us [when she died], even children from my major faculty, to say she would do these small, random acts of kindness to assist individuals.
“If she noticed a bit of child distressed, she’d say one thing to be calm and type, and it stayed with them eternally.”
Helen was additionally an enormous music fan, and particularly cherished rock band T. Rex, which Della mentioned had a “large” affect on her and her brother.
Helen was an animal-lover and had been vegan for 30 years
(Image: Della O’Sullivan)
Impact of Covid-19
The virus has, undeniably, devastated Helen’s household.
Helen, who is one of seven siblings, was one of 5 relations hospitalised with Covid.
She was additionally the second to die of the virus: her brother Marios misplaced his life final 12 months.
Helen was admitted into King’s College Hospital with Covid on December 27, 2020, alongside along with her sister.
She was put into intensive take care of a 5 day interval initially, and was then ready to return to the Covid restoration ward.
Her 88-year-old mom, Aproditi, was admitted shortly after – the household ready for Aproditi to not survive her sickness.
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As Helen was making progress, and it appeared that Aproditi won’t have lengthy left to reside, Helen was ready to go and see her for one final time.
At the time, the household have been unaware that it might be the opposite means spherical. Aproditi has survived her battle with Covid – although the long-term results have been devastating – however Helen was set to take a flip for the worst.
Della mentioned: “The hospital organized for my mum, who was her next-of-kin and full-time carer, to come down and see her.
“They wheeled her down along with her oxygen masks and he or she was ready to see her mum – I captured it in an image.
“They each had their masks on, and my mum put their masks collectively as if she was kissing her.
Helen along with her mum, Aproditi, the day earlier than she went onto a ventilator for the ultimate time
(Image: Della O’Sullivan)
“Because I used to be there as a carer for my grandma, I used to be there and was ready to see my mum. That was the day earlier than she went again on a ventilator.
“The subsequent day, she took a fast decline – they known as us within the morning and mentioned her oxygen ranges have been dipping, she was going into respiratory failure.”
Della, who was introduced to tears remembering her closing moments along with her mum, mentioned she was ready to video name her earlier than she was put into an induced coma.
“Just as she was, ever so caring, she was telling us to drink water, and for my dad to take care of his coronary heart as a result of he has a coronary heart situation.
“Then she went again onto the ventilator.”
Helen was terrified of being on a ventilator, as not solely was she claustrophobic, she knew from watching her brothers undergo the identical that it was the very last thing they may do to save her life.
Her braveness led her via it: she fought each step of the way in which to be along with her household once more.
Helen and her household. L to R: Helen, her brother Costas, sister Christina, mum Aproditi and brother Marios – who additionally misplaced his life to the virus final 12 months
(Image: Della O’Sullivan)
Helen remained in hospital for an additional seven weeks, with a ventilator helping her respiratory, and her situation was static for some time.
The household thought she is perhaps getting higher, as a result of the hospital carried out a tracheostomy which Della says is just carried out on sufferers with decrease oxygen wants.
But in the previous couple of weeks her situation worsened. The hospital known as the household in on March 3 to say goodbye: Della stayed within the hospital for 10 hours, alongside along with her dad, brother and niece.
“I did not need to go away. I simply wished to be along with her. I promised her I’d be along with her, that she would not go on her personal,” she mentioned.
Helen handed away on March 3, holding the palms of her household and listening to her favorite music by Marc Bolan.
Helen’s household keep in mind her as form, caring, nurturing and wonderful. Pictured: Helen on vacation
(Image: Della O’Sullivan)
Helen’s household have arrange a fundraiser in her reminiscence: they are going to be putting in a memorial bench and a plum blossom tree in Dulwich Park, a spot she cherished dearly, to allow them to go there to keep in mind her. You can donate right here.
Did you already know Helen O’Sullivan? If you would like to pay tribute to her, e-mail [email protected]
