Lets Support Charitha with the sudden passing of his wife Nilakshani (Nisha/Nishi) and his baby daughter Eliana

On the 5th of June Charitha Meepegam's wife Nisha tragically suffered an unexpected and very sudden medical event at home. Nisha was pregnant at the time and due to have her baby the next day. The medical event claimed Nisha’s life and Eliana had to be delivered by caesarean on the way to hospital in the ambulance. Unfortunately due to Nisha not being able to deliver enough oxygen to Eliana she too has since passed away due to the extent of her brain damage.

The staff at Auckland City Hospital tried in vain for 2 hours to bring Nisha back to life. Nisha died on the day that their beautiful baby Eliana was brought into the world.

The starship NICU staff have been amazing in supporting Charitha through what has been an extremely tragic journey of losing his wife and then having to let Eliana go to join Nisha.

The efforts of the St Johns Ambulance people and the staff at Auckland City Hospital have been nothing short of extraordinary. They are amazing people who give so freely to help people in their time of need. Thank you to them all.

Nisha and her husband Charitha came to New Zealand from Sri Lanka 4 1/2 years ago, to start a new life for themselves. They were set to make New Zealand their permanent home and to raise a family here. On arrival both Nisha and Charitha studied in Auckland. Nisha worked nights to support both of them as she was the only one with a work/study visa. Once she had finished her studies she graduated and applied for a job working for our Company. Out of all the applicants Nisha stood out as a young person that had integrity, a great attitude and willing to learn.

She very soon she made her mark on our company. She was a generous organiser. She lifted everyone’s spirits through her efforts to celebrate any event that she deemed was worthy of focus on one of the team. This included organising cakes, making special lunches and arranging festivities for the staff member who needed to be made to feel special. She came to work every day with a positive attitude, was extremely hard working and had the highest level of integrity one could ask for in an employee. All of our team loved having her as one of us. She was the person I relied on and trusted fully to keep our business moving forward.

The loss we all feel is incomprehensible.

Nisha and Charitha were so excited about the impending birth of their beautiful daughter. And to then have this series of events unfold is nothing short of staggering.

Charitha has had all of his dreams and plans suddenly ripped away from him with the passing away of Nisha and Eliana. The shock and loss has been heartbreaking for Charitha.

Charitha and Nisha have no immediate family in New Zealand and not enough savings to pay for the funeral and the final resting place for Nisha, in New Zealand.

Charitha’s brother and sister live in Melbourne and are unable to come to New Zealand for the funeral due to the current lockdown. Charitha is desperate to get to Melbourne to be with his brother and sister to help him recover and to give him the family support that he needs. He then plans to go back to Sri Lanka when he is able to see both their families.

We understand that there are people that wish to support Charitha by a donation to help with the expenses that will be incurred for their funeral, for a final resting place for Nisha and Eliana in New Zealand, and to help with the travel expenses to Melbourne and Sri Lanka and to help Charitha with the recovery of this great loss. This support would greatly help Charitha with these expenses.

We have lost a friend, a mother and wife, and a baby. Nisha has touched the hearts of all she came in contact with. If you do feel inclined to donate we all thank you so very much.