Tears in the UK as coronavirus kills exceptional Nigerian nurse Eyitolami Olaolorun who devoted her life to terminally-ill children

Eyitolami Olaolorun (centre) with her children (left to right) Olajide, 33, Oluwadamilola, 27, Oladimeji, 29, and Oyinkansola Honey Iloba, 32. Eyitolami Olaolorun, a paediatric nurse from London, died after contracting Covid-19
Eyitolami Olaolorun (centre) with her children (left to right) Olajide, 33, Oluwadamilola, 27, Oladimeji, 29, and Oyinkansola Honey Iloba, 32. Eyitolami Olaolorun, a paediatric nurse from London, died after contracting Covid-19

A good Nigerian nurse who devoted her life to terminally-ill children is being mourned in the United Kingdom after she was killed by the novel coronavirus.

Sixty-year old Eyitolami Olaolorun who had been a nurse for 40 years died on April 16.

She arrived in the UK 20 years ago with her four children after splitting with her husband.

Eyitolami Olaolorun (centre) with her children (left to right) Olajide, 33, Oluwadamilola, 27, Oladimeji, 29, and Oyinkansola Honey Iloba, 32. Eyitolami Olaolorun, a paediatric nurse from London, died after contracting Covid-19
Eyitolami Olaolorun (centre) with her children (left to right) Olajide, 33, Oluwadamilola, 27, Oladimeji, 29, and Oyinkansola Honey Iloba, 32. Eyitolami Olaolorun, a paediatric nurse from London, died after contracting Covid-19

Reports in the United Kingdom said most recently, she worked at Wellington Hospital, a private centre in St John’s Wood, caring for young patients who were critically or terminally ill. She also worked for the NHS at various hospitals.

Daily Mail quoted Oyinkansola Honey Iloba described her mother as ‘selfless’ and ‘an exceptional woman’.

“She didn’t see her patients as just someone she was looking after, they were family,’ the 32-year-old said.

Eyitolami Olaolorun (centre) with her children (left to right) Olajide, 33, Oluwadamilola, 27, Oladimeji, 29, and Oyinkansola Honey Iloba, 32. Eyitolami Olaolorun, a paediatric nurse from London, died after contracting Covid-19

“There’s a picture of one of her patients on her wall. He’s pretty much our adopted younger brother because of how she saw him.

“She would spend Christmas with us and then spend it with her patients too, and always remembered birthdays.

“She raised all four of us by herself. We’re all graduates, we’re all doing well. That’s all because of her, she sacrificed everything for us.’