Aww!
The Ebola victim (Patrick Sawyer, 40) from Liberia who sparked
fears of the ‘Ebola’ outbreak in Lagos, was actually an American. He was planning to
return home to Coon Rapids, Minnesota, to be reunited with his children for two
of his daughters’ birthdays in August.
fears of the ‘Ebola’ outbreak in Lagos, was actually an American. He was planning to
return home to Coon Rapids, Minnesota, to be reunited with his children for two
of his daughters’ birthdays in August.
Patrick and his wife, are originally from Liberia and have family in the US and West
Africa. See more photos of him and his daughters below:
Back home in Minnesota, his devastated wife, Decontee isreeling from the news that her husband has passed away.
‘I have three daughters who will
never get to know their father,’ Decontee Sawyer said in an interview with the Pioneer
Press.
never get to know their father,’ Decontee Sawyer said in an interview with the Pioneer
Press.
Recalling her husband, Decontee said
he was ‘larger than life’ and that she is stills shocked that someone so strong
could have their life ended so suddenly.
he was ‘larger than life’ and that she is stills shocked that someone so strong
could have their life ended so suddenly.
Sawyer, who worked for the
Liberian Finance Ministry married his wife Decontee in December 2008, in Coon
Rapids.
Liberian Finance Ministry married his wife Decontee in December 2008, in Coon
Rapids.
The couple, who both hold US
citizenship are originally from Liberia and Decontee arrived in the country
with her family in 1991 and Patrick came in the early 2000s.
citizenship are originally from Liberia and Decontee arrived in the country
with her family in 1991 and Patrick came in the early 2000s.
The couple are part of the large
Liberian community in Minnesota, who moved there in the aftermath of the
nation’s two civil wars in the 1980s and late 1990s.
Liberian community in Minnesota, who moved there in the aftermath of the
nation’s two civil wars in the 1980s and late 1990s.
His job had taken him back to West
Africa to promote economic development there and he was last in the United
States in September said Decontee.
Africa to promote economic development there and he was last in the United
States in September said Decontee.
His long absences away from home had
become common and before he boarded the plane to Lagos last week he had been
caring for a sister who was ill with what was revealed to be Ebola, although
according to Decontee, he and his family did not know that at the time….he didn’t know!
become common and before he boarded the plane to Lagos last week he had been
caring for a sister who was ill with what was revealed to be Ebola, although
according to Decontee, he and his family did not know that at the time….he didn’t know!
Decontee learned he was ill with
Ebola on Thursday and then on Friday she was told her husband of six years had
passed away from the virus.
Ebola on Thursday and then on Friday she was told her husband of six years had
passed away from the virus.
Distraught, Decontee said that she
had come forward to share her husband’s fate so that the public can understand
how quickly the virus can spread.
had come forward to share her husband’s fate so that the public can understand
how quickly the virus can spread.
So sad.
