Father left heartbroken over daughter’s Covid death

Father left heartbroken over daughter’s Covid death

22 September 2021

A DISTRAUGHT Drumaness man has spoken of his devastation after his daughter and ex-partner both died from Covid-19 within days of each other.

Sammie-Jo Forde, who was buried on Monday, died on Saturday, September 11, 12 days after her mother, Heather Maddern.

They had lived together and worked together as home care assistants for the elderly. Both were unvaccinated.

An online fundraiser has been set up in memory of Mrs Forde, who was 32 and the mother of four children.

Her father, Mr Kevin McAllister, says he has been “shattered” by the tragedy.

Mr McAllister said his daughter and her mother were just two bays from each other when they were being treated in the Ulster Hospital.

Speaking on the BBC Radio Ulster Nolan Show last Wednesday, he said: “I’ve had the worst weekend of my life. My daughter passed away on Saturday from Covid-19. Her mummy got buried yesterday, she had Covid-19.

“I’ve lost my daughter, my best friend. All I have are memories of her, motorbike racing, fishing, driving 

diggers, that’s all the memories I have.

“She’s getting buried next Monday and I can’t even give her a kiss cheerio. Next Monday I have to bury my first born, my best friend, my daughter.”

Mr McAllister said people choosing not to take the Covid vaccine “don’t realise what they are leaving behind”.

“I can never get it out of my mind. Why didn’t she take it? It will haunt me for the rest of my life,” he continued.

“I wouldn’t wish [on] anybody what I’m going through. I just wish people out there would just sometimes listen to the experts, because that’s what they are. I am devastated.

“If she had took it she would be alive today, her and her mummy. Loads of people out there not taking it, they don’t realise what they are leaving behind.

We have to pick up the pieces, so I just take every day as it comes now. Nothing bothers me any more.

“I just wish to God she took it, it’s on my mind every night, thinking why didn’t you take it, why didn’t you take it,” he added.

“I can’t bring back the past, it’s in the past, but I just wish people out there could just take it because don’t go through what I’m going through.”

Mrs Forde, who lived in Groomsport, is also survived by her husband, John, children, Max, Ruby, Milo and Daisy, and the family circle.

A fundraising page has been set up by her best friend, Debbie Strain, to help provide financial support for her family.

The Help Support the Forde Family gofundme page has already raised more than £10,000.

Ms Strain said: “She was an amazing mother, a loving wife and she will never be forgotten.

The head of Northern Ireland’s Covid vaccine programme, Patricia Donnelly, said she “applauded” Mr McAllister for urging people to get vaccinated.

She remarked: “We can be as persuasive as we can and put out public information, but often the only thing that influences a person to come forward are stories like this when they can identify with the pain this family is going through.”