By Diaspora Insurance News
“Fatima’s last wish was to be laid to rest beside her late mother and daughter in Zambia and for her kids to be there,” wrote an emotional Ryan Omar Bradley Parkinson.
He was organising a GoFundMe appeal in November last year that sought to raise £11,000 for the late Fatima Parkinson.
“This would be to cover costs of repatriation from England to Zambia where we can only repatriate her to a place 7 hours away from her hometown, meaning we would also need to look at the costs of transporting her to her hometown.
“We have also factored in booking return flight tickets for the 3 children from England to Zambia.”
However, not long after that, Ryan Omar Bradley would give a heartbreaking update on the appeal.
“It is with a heavy heart we have to say that, unfortunately, we have not been able to raise enough money for the repatriation,” he said.
“We were really hoping we could grant her last wish and send her off the way she wanted to without having to cremate her and repatriate her body.”
Against a target of £11,000, the appeal has to date only managed to raise just over £2,000 with some 28 people making donations.
And as pressure increased from the waiting family back in Zambia, a decision had to be made.
“The children and extended family want Fatima to be laid to rest as soon as possible therefore a decision has been made to cremate the body in the UK and the ashes will be sent to Zambia to be buried in our mothers grave.”
Diaspora Insurance helps bereaved families in such tragic times, so that they do not find themselves struggling with huge and unexpected costs while also grieving their loved one.
With cash cover of up to £20,000, families can celebrate their loved ones with peace of mind, knowing that they have funeral costs provided for, including body repatriation.
Meanwhile, Fatima bravely battled cancer since was diagnosed in 2018, continuing to work as a carer with vulnerable children and study to become a nurse despite undergoing a tough chemotherapy therapy regime.
She managed beat off breast cancer twice, but eight months later “she got the devasting news. She was diagnosed with metastatic (incurable) bone cancer”.
“She vowed to secure her kids’ future and still worked after this diagnosis,” explained Ryan Omar Bradley.
“Despite the challenges faced, Fatima worked tirelessly to secure a future for her three children, Darren, Favour, and Miracle, bringing them to the UK with the support of compassionate friends and community.”
The new cancer spread rapidly throughout her body over the past two years, “affecting her mobility, memory, and motor skills. She was bedridden and needed a lot of help”.
She was be admitted to hospital in November last year.
“After two days in hospital, we got the shock of our lives a call to say Fatima’s organs were failing, and she sadly passed away. We did not expect it so soon,” said Ryan Omar Bradley.
“Fatima was a devoted mother and a beacon of hope for many in Zambia, always extending a helping hand to those in need, till the very last day.
“Her kindness has left a lasting impact, and everyone who knew her had something good to say.”
