Covid hero, Rozy Saldhana, who sold her jewellery to help patients, passes away

I don't know how long I will live. I had some jewellery which is of no use. At least selling it has helped someone stay alive," Rozy Saldhana had told mid-day in April after she and her husband raised funds for COVID patients amid the second wave. On Saturday, Rozy headed for heaven.

Rozy's last rites were performed on Sunday at the cemetery on the premises of the Malwani church in Malad West in the presence of family, friends and hundreds of people.

In July, the couple had started an ambulance service for the needy

Rozy, 51, and her husband Pascal from Malwani touched countless hearts after they bought eight oxygen cylinders in the peak of the second wave by selling Rozy's jewellery for Rs 80,000. Pascal said he had kept an oxygen cylinder at home considering the fragile health of his wife, but she donated it to a COVID patient at once after learning that people were struggling to access the life-saving gas. Impressed by their selfless act, Dettol had featured them on its handwash bottles.

Rozy's kidneys had failed about five years ago and she was on dialysis thrice a week and often had laboured breathing. Despite her failing health, she was always concerned about others, said friends and relatives.

"Rozy was very happy, her health was getting better. But in the last few months, her health deteriorated, the dialysis which used to be three times a week was increased to four and then five. Her heartbeat was too low. Last evening, when I came home she held me closer, caressed my cheek and fell asleep. I tried to wake her up around eight o'clock, but her body had become cold," Pascal told mid-day.

Rozy was a teacher at St. Xavier's School, Borivli, while Pascal is a well-known decorator at Malwani.

Recalling her last days, Pascal said, "She realised that she had to leave us. She often told me she was satisfied with her life and whatever she had done for society in her capacity. Her only dream was to see our son getting married. My son works as a bartender on a cruise ship in the US. He had to return to India during the lockdown. We had decided to get him married next month but unfortunately, Rozy passed away before that."

Pascal said Rozy was very fond of ornaments and she chose to sell them off to help COVID patients. mid-day's reports on the couple had won them praise from across the world, with several people donating money to them.

After raising about Rs 38 lakh, the couple had bought two ambulances and nearly 50 more oxygen cylinders. They also distributed thousands of ration kits, 300 dialysis kits, each worth Rs 2,500, to kidney patients.

Earlier, Pascal said his wife had slipped into a coma four times and had a brain haemorrhage. He said they spent over Rs 2 crore on her treatment and on setting up medical infrastructure at home.