March 2021
Imagine our journey as a family into a world made empty by your passing, of fear for our longing, a journey, seemingly with no ending, and our only solace is in remembering.Yet, we remain thankful that our hearts will be uplifted by your life, your kindness, and yes, that warm smile and the bear hugs we all received. We remember your face, through our own suffering, and draw strength from your courage.
Thank you, Tunde!
Often, in journeys such as this, we question our own path, the milestones along the way, and the longing question - did we do all we could to love and cherish you? Grief brings fear, and fear leads to anger, and at times, an unsettling disconnection, which can lay us all bare. Yet, it is in these times that we open not close our arms, embrace our differences and do not push them aside, endure with honour, and build upon our love.
Families are never easy, but we are one: united in grief, forgiving in spirit, and enjoined in love. On this journey with you Tunde, in which we were passengers, we learned that you had caught COVID-19 whilst visiting your family in London. You became ill in September 2020, and due to your pre-existing lung condition, landed in hospital just one week later.
By October 15th you were in the intensive care unit. Unfortunately, although your dear brother Yemi did all he could to see you in person during these early days, the entire world was gripped in a lockdown that prevented direct physical contact. We were grateful for the times he could see you intermittently in the intensive care unit and were grateful to be kept updated.
We are also thankful that your daughter, Jumoke, was able to see you while you were in the intensive care unit.
No path is ever smooth, and our crests fell when your condition worsened towards the end of October, needing even more oxygen to stay with us. We said prayers, many specially designed for you, and locked ourselves in our respective faiths that you would recover.
On the 12th of November, we heard that your condition was deteriorating, and for us to prepare for poorer news. We conveyed what we heard to the doctors in the family and looked for any sign of hope. Specialists from all over the UK convened to try and help, and they did all they could to keep you with us.
Your wife advocated for an experimental treatment, which was administered.
We are grateful for her courage and were right there in support to do all and everything that could be done.
We then had a blessed respite of a few days during which we were able to communicate with you, albeit with much difficulty, and our hearts were lifted with hope.
Cruelly, you caught another infection, which despite the might of your courage, could not be overcome. We are saddened that throughout this ordeal since October 2020 you were unable to leave the intensive care unit.
At dawn, on March the 24th 2021, your dear brother Yemi was informed of your passing on.
Yemi’s grief was unbearable, but he drew some comfort knowing your wife had been with you in your final moments. Our sadness continues. Often, loss not only brings grief but confusion. In such a haze brought about by the dark mood, words are difficult, and in our pain, our struggles can make us bump into one another. In our frustration, like with all things human, our feelings are hard to grasp and convey. Nevertheless, our overwhelming recollection is of our enduring love for you, your wife, and your daughter.
This is the melting pot of what makes us who we are as a family, and how we stand up when we are called to just be there for each other. And yes, we did all we could to love and cherish you and shall continue to do so!
In our grief, we extend our love to all, we pray for time to heal all wounds for everyone, and kneel in supplication that the grace of God gives us the opportunity to be allowed to honour your life, as is befitting of you, us, and the world outside.
With gratitude to God, fortitude for our family, prayers for wisdom, and the love of our ancestors,
Chief Dr. Adeniyi Coker, for the family
