A teacher with “a beautiful laugh and infectious smile” tragically died from Covid after complaining of tiredness.
Heartbreaking tributes have been paid to Shamim Mir, 59, who didn’t display any of the classic symptoms associated with coronavirus including a persistent cough, high temperature and loss of taste.
The “special” grandmother, from Yardley Wood, Birmingham, had simply complained about being tired after testing positive for Covid before Christmas.
But on New Year’s Eve she became very unwell and was struggling to breathe, Birmingham Live reports.
Her worried family called for an ambulance and she was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
Shortly after she arrived she was admitted into intensive care and was placed on a ventilator as her condition deteriorated.
But she suffered multi-organ failure and died on January 13 with her devastated family by her side.
Daughter Dr Naheeda Farooq told BirminghamLive: “My mother was a supply teacher and worked at many secondary schools across the Birmingham area.
“She had been shielding through the pandemic as she suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure.
“My dad went to work. They both tested positive for Covid just before Christmas. Thankfully my dad recovered but my mom didn’t.
“She didn’t show any classic signs of coronavirus like a cough or high temperature or loss of taste.
“She was feeling very tired and had bouts of diarrhea.
“On New Year’s Eve she became very unwell and was struggling to breathe. My dad called for an ambulance and she was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
“We spoke to her briefly on Facetime while she was in there but shortly after she was placed on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit.
“Her condition deteriorated and she suffered multi-organ failure.
“Doctors told us she wasn’t going to make it so we visited her on January 13 where we offered prayers for her and held her hand as she passed away.”
Dr Farooq said her mother was a special lady who had a love for children and a desire for them to do well in life through good education.
Paying tribute to her she said: “Those that met my mother remember her for her smile and her infectious laugh.
“She was a very caring woman. She loved shopping but not really for herself. She would indulge everyone else.
“She doted on her granddaughter, nieces and nephews.
“She saw education as being incredibly important and pushed myself to be the best I could be in life.
“She wanted the same for the pupils at the many schools she taught at.
“She was a very special lady and she will be so greatly missed.”
Dr Farooq’s best friend is Dr Hajra Ashraf. She also lost her father Mohammed Ashraf, who lives in London, of Covid on the same day.
The friends have set up a GoFundMe fundraising page in memory of their parents.
