AREEMA NASREEN, an “amazing nurse on the front line”, has passed away after battling for life at the hospital she worked in.
The 36-year-old mother of three had been put on a ventilator after testing positive for Covid-19, and being attended to by fellow-medics at Walsall Manor Hospital.
Areema, who worked with NHS for 16 years, had no prior health issues, said her family.
Her sister, Kazeema Nasreen, a healthcare assistant at the same hospital, said her sibling was “an amazing nurse on the front line and who always helps so many”.
She added that Areema had been “normally fit and healthy” while she contracted the virus.
“I want everyone to know how dangerous this is,” Kazeema said.
Areema had started having symptoms such as high temperature, cough and body aches about two weeks days ago.
“The immediate family are devastated,” said a relative. “Everyone is in shock this morning.
“She was always so full of life. She was devoted to her job as a nurse, she absolutely loved it. She passed away doing what she loved.
“I'm really sad for the rest of the family, she was a fantastic person.”
In a tribute on social media, Areema’s friend Rubi Aktar described her as “the most loveliest, genuine person you could ever meet”.
She wrote: "I’m so grateful that I had the honour to call her my best friend, she saw me at my best and my worst and accepted my every flaw. I am so broken that words can’t explain.
"I can’t believe I will not see your smile again.
"You made me the nurse that I am today, with your support, motivation and inspiration I am the nurse that I am today and I hope I can do you proud, Areema.
"I love you so much and I will never forget you. You had so much to live for, I am sorry you didn’t get to see your kids grow up and I’m sorry that you didn’t get to complete your career."
Kazeema said her sister “loved the NHS”, and her colleagues were like a “second family”.
Areema had started off as a housekeeping staff at Manor Hospital 15 years ago, was a staff nurse who “always put others first” and was “truly loved by everyone”.
On her “dream of becoming a nurse”, Areema had recently said: “I just wanted to be able to look after people, particularly those who are elderly and vulnerable.”
"I cry every morning because I am so happy that I have finally realised my dream of becoming a nurse."
After being taken by her family to “Pakistan to be married at 17”, she had been told to focus solely on playing a supportive role within the marriage.
“It felt at that point that nursing was so far away from me,” Areema had said.
“I got a job in housekeeping at Walsall Manor Hospital and at that interview found staff to be incredibly supportive of my dream.”
After qualifying as a staff nurse at the hospital’s Acute Medical Unit in January last year, she had exclaimed: “I am so blessed to have this role and absolutely love it.”
Areema was the sixth NHS personnel to die of Covid-19.
The others were:
Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, died in intensive care on March 25 at Southend Hospital in Essex.
Dr Adil El Tayar, 63, died on March 28 after contracting the virus at the Hereford County Hospital.
Dr Amged El-Hawrani, 55, an ENT specialist at Queen's Hospital Burton, died on March 29.
Nurse Thomas Harvey, 57, of Goodmayes Hospital, died on March 29.
Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, who worked at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital, Hertfordshire, died on March 31.
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