An Edinburgh dad has died “of a broken heart” just weeks after the loss of his beloved wife.
Robert Japp, known as Bob, was devastated when he lost his partner Matilda after she passed away at the end of June. Unfortunately he never got over the loss.
After Matilda was diagnosed with Emphysema COPD in 1989, Bob took over as her full time carer and the pair “never spent a day apart” in the 29 years they were together.
Matilda coped well with her illness but in her final years was confined to her Edinburgh home on 24 hour oxygen before she was rushed to the hospital earlier this year with an infection. The 65-year-old was later diagnosed with terminal delirium and passed away in her sleep on June 29.
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While the whole family were devastated by the loss, 55-year-old Bob could never come to terms with her passing.
Speaking to the Record, Matilda's daughter and Bob's stepdaughter, Kelly Hunter, 46, said: "My mum fought so hard to live and stay with her family and lived much longer than anticipated before she was finally taken from us.
"In 1989 she had an operation to remove part of her lung. She suffered, but was still able to do stuff - until gradually over time her mobility became worse.
"Since Covid she was totally confined to the house and on oxygen all the time and she hadn't been out of the house in two or three years.
"My dad was her full time carer - they were together all the time - so when she passed away he just kind of gave up.
"He had suffered from Crohn's disease and had a few issues with that, but when my mum passed away he hit depression.
"He just took to his bed, stopped eating, stopped drinking - then just gave up on life. We were trying to keep his spirits up and everything - but he just totally gave up."
Bob was sent to the hospital with pneumonia and prescribed antibiotics but his condition continued to deteriorate. He was later diagnosed with double pneumonia and a chest infection.
On Wednesday, August 24, exactly eight weeks after the passing of Matilda, Bob died in hospital.
Kelly said: "They said to us on Monday there was nothing else they could do for us, then on Wednesday night he passed away.
"He was only 55, he wasn't even old. I think he was just heartbroken and he just gave up.
"We couldn't get him out of that depression. We had district nurses in every day and the GP was out - but no one could get his spirits up. He died of a broken heart."
Paying tribute to the pair, Kelly said: "I don't think anyone has ever had a bad word to say about the two of them.
"They never spent a day apart in their whole 29 years together. They were very family orientated and loved spending time with their children and grandkids. They were joined at the hip.
"My mum was one of a kind, she would give anyone her last - and Bob was a big Rangers fan who would do anything for anyone.
"We are all just numb. I've not even processed my mum and now Bob has died as well, it's really hard."
Following the tragedy, Kelly, her sister and her three brothers have been left completely heartbroken. They have now launched a fundraiser to help pay for the funeral costs.
Kelly, a cleaning manager in Morrisons, said: "Funerals are expensive and we are trying hard - but it's a struggle, especially being off work caring for both. It has left us all short.
"We paid half for my mum’s up front in cash and because Robert was on carers allowance and my mum was on disability, he had applied for funeral support payment to help towards my mum’s funeral. But because it hasn’t been processed and he has now died we have been told we might not be eligible for that.
"So we now have had to find money for two funerals and it's just been a real struggle. We really didn't want to have to launch a fundraiser but every little helps."
To support Kelly and her family following the double tragedy by donating to the GoFundMe page, click here .
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