Nurse’s touching TV tribute on day of reflection

A minute’s silence was held at noon on Tuesday to remember everyone who has died and who has been bereaved during the pandemic.

The National Day of Reflection was organised by the Marie Curie charity “to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future”. The landmark date is the anniversary of the first national lockdown.

Among the families sharing their heart-breaking experiences of loss was former Larne resident mother-of-three Noeleen Henry whose husband Alan died on January 6 at Antrim Hospital where his wife worked as an intensive care nurse.

A minute of reflection took place at Antrim Area Hospital at 12 noon to remember all those who have been lost.

Mr Henry had worked for a number of years in the Northern Trust’s Rapid Response Team in Antrim before taking up a new role in the Dementia Team.

He was the father of Amber, Jordan and Brad and grandfather of Jack, Avah, Mikey and Theo.

Noeleen, who now lives in Ballymena, told the BBC Spotlight programme: “I have been told I have to try and find a new normal but I don’t want to find a new normal. I was quite happy with my normal.”

She has said previously:  “He was such a good man adored by me, my kids and our grandchildren. I am lost at the minute, I don’t know how I am going to go on on my own.

“I went to work, came home the housework was done, the dinner made and the little messages sorted. He was a total rock.

“Alan sorted everything, the kids had problems dad sorted it out. Why had he to be taken? It’s not fair, of all people, the man that followed the rules. The man that knew he was at risk but still supported me to work in ICU.”

Click here to read: Larne ICU nurse’s Covid risk plea after losing husband to virus

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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