Kerala Nurse, Who Died Tending To Nipah Patients, Left Letter For Hubby

Nurse Lini Puthussery died on May 21 after contracting the Nipah virus from patients she was tending to. The 31-year-old worked as a nurse at Perambra Taluk Hospital near Kozhikode, Kerala.

The mother of two died without bidding adieu to her loved ones. She had to be cremated even before her family could get one last glimpse of her. This was because of the strict safety protocol of the hospital in such a case.

Lini was the part of the team that treated the first victim of this virus. With her death, the number of deaths because of this virus has gone up to 10

She reportedly left a note for her husband Sajish, who works in the Gulf. Lini addressed the letter to him, asking him to take care of their children.

"Saji Chetta, I am almost on my way. I don't think I will be able to see you. Sorry. Take care of our children properly. Our innocent child, take him to the gulf. They shouldn't be alone like our father. Lots of love..." This is what she wrote to her husband before she succumbed to the fatal virus.

Lini took care of the first victim of Nipah virus, Mohammed Sadik. According to her husband, she developed fever after Sadik passed away.

“She was very much disturbed by the death of Sadik,” said Sajish.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote on Facebook, “The loss of Lini, who had sacrificed her life for nursing a patient, is a grief for all of us. Lini’s sacrifice is incomparable. It is painful that Lini met with this tragedy while she was sincerely doing her duty. We, the people of the state, share the pain and loss of Lini’s family, friends, and colleagues.”

The CM also honoured the nurse by tweeting, “Her selfless service will be remembered.”

CM condoled over the demise of Lini, the nurse who died of infection while taking care of Nipah virus affected patients. It is saddening to know that she lost her life while serving others. Her selfless service will be remembered. pic.twitter.com/RaE973xRJ2

— CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) May 22, 2018

Lini joined the hospital last year September.

There is no vaccination for this virus yet, says the World Health Organization.

Dr. Deepu Sebin, chief executive of DailyRounds, a network of doctors, tweeted, “Nurse Lini died in our battle against the Nipah virus. She died trying to save patients infected by it. She was just 31 and was a mother of two little kids. If she is not a martyr, I don't know who is."

A nurse who took care of a #NIPHAVirus patients & succumbed to same. Her body was cremated with extreme urgency to prevent any possible spread and even her family could not pay due respect. Respect to Lini &a reminder that healthcare workers take immense personal risk to serve us pic.twitter.com/4kzESu6j4J

— Dr. Deepu Sebin (@deepusebin) May 21, 2018

Sajish asserts that they accepted the government’s decision to cremate her body. Lini’s heartbreaking letter has been shared across social media with the hashtag  #RIPAngelLini.

Her husband, children, and close ones are under observation. Their blood samples have also been taken as a precautionary measure.

Picture Credit: Twitter

Also: What Is Nipah? Things To Know About The Deadly Virus

Deepali Is An Intern With SheThePeople.TV