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A grieving daughter recalled the heartbreaking moment when she sang gospel songs at the bedside of her father’s hospital before he lost his life to the coronavirus.
Kenneth Musinguzi, of Bury, died on November 15, just days after his brother Ronald Kasaija died in a motorcycle accident in Uganda.
His daughter Glenda described him as her “hero” who was the “bravest person” she knew.
Before falling ill, the social worker was fit and healthy.
He had diet-controlled diabetes and hypertension, but there was “no indication” that he would get so seriously ill.
The 51-year-old, who moved to the UK from Uganda when he was a teenager, spent ten days in an induced coma battling the virus at Royal Bolton Hospital.
A counselor then brought the family to tell them they couldn’t do anything else.
Kenneth, who passed on his love of football to his 14-year-old son George, had deteriorated quickly after saying he was struggling to breathe on November 5th.
That day he was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital and on 6 November the decision was made to put him in an induced coma.
“I spoke to my dad at 2pm and again around 6pm on the phone and both times he told me he was struggling to breathe and needed to break the phone,” said his daughter Glenda, 24.
Over the next few days, his lungs became inflamed, his kidneys began to fail and he underwent dialysis.
On November 15, doctors called daughter Glenda Musinguzi and wife Jackie Musinguzi to the hospital.
He was told he had stopped breathing for 11 minutes – he had been given the adrenaline for two cardiac arrests.
The counselor described what happened as Kenneth was “trying to die” and she said she was on the verge of having another arrest, Glenda said.
Kenneth’s teenage son George was waiting downstairs with his Aunt Philo while Glenda and Jackie went to the ward, he said.
“He looked so sick, so weak, so tired, but he was still fighting. He really felt like he was waiting for us. We stroked his face and stroked his hand. We told him we loved him a million times,” Glenda said. .
“We told him we still needed him and to keep fighting for us. We told him his son was downstairs and we had to give him good news.
“We told him this was the last push and if the doctors saw any small improvement, they would keep it with us.”
Over the next few hours, he was given 100% ventilation but his oxygen saturation levels were 40%.
The consultant confirmed that if he survived he would have had brain damage due to the lack of oxygen that was able to reach his brain.
“Although Mom and I wanted to keep the cars running, but the consultant said we were ‘prolonging the inevitable’ because Dad was getting worse and worse,” she said.
“Mom and I sobbed like babies. I remember looking out, the sky was so dark and the rain was so heavy.
“We called the family and asked them to pray for Dad and us as we spent the last few hours with him. When we got back into the ward, Dad was still waiting for us. He had started sweating on his face and his right eye started tearing. .
“Both Mom and I had our moments with him. I told my dad how proud I was of him, how inspiring he was to me.
“I thanked him for doing his best to fight the virus. I thanked him for waiting for us. I told him I loved him so much.
“I told him I wanted him to be with me in every decision I make, no matter how big or small. I told him that I too would work hard as he fought in everything I do in life.
“I told him I want to feel his presence and I want to see him in my dreams. I have played old voice recordings of George’s voice.
“I made promises in my brother’s name and said everything I thought my brother would say to my father right now.”
In its final moments, the intensive care unit arranged for the family to have a Church of England priest pray for Kenneth.
“We sang gospel songs to him. And then around 11.11 the nurse started slowly shutting down the machines.
“I remember the moment when my eyes were closed but all I could see was the light. Outside the rain had completely stopped and the sky was clear.
“Personally, I feel that it was my father’s spirit that reassured us that he had listened to us and that he was fine. He died a few minutes later at 11:24 am,” Glenda said.
While at his bedside, Glenda promised to honor Kenneth’s dying wish: to be buried in Mwenge, a Ugandan village where he grew up.
The family is currently hosting Kenneth’s memorial service at St Andrews Church in Ramsbottom on December 2 at 12 noon.
They therefore hope to bring him home to Uganda.
A gofundme page has been created to help play for flights and the funeral. To donate, click here.
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