Life After Loss: Sabrina Nandram's Story

Life After Loss Life After Loss Sabrina Nandram’s Story

Sabrina Nandram’s Story By

By Bailee BaileeZelis Zelis

Sabrina Nandram looks at family photos in her mothers bedroom in in Hopewell N.J. on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020.

Sabrina Nandrams father Kissun Nandram passed away from COVID-19 in April soon after the global outbreak. Her story is similar to what millions of people have gone through this year in terms of loss and unexpected twists of life. While Sabrina and her family have mourned the death of her father, they are now in the process of figuring out what their life will look like now that he is gone. Kissuns life was cut short but he is remembered by his family and friends for his endless hard work and sacrifices made in order to provide a comfortable life for his family. Kissun lived in Trinidad for most of his life but as he got married and watched Sabrina grow up it became clear to him that he wanted to move to America in order to give his daughter a safe and prosperous life.

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Kissum and Susan Nandram’s wedding photo hangs in their bedroom in in Hopewell N.J.

Kissun began to look for pathways to America and soon landed a job on a farm in Hopewell New Jersey as a handyman. In 2000 Kissun set off to the United States for work, leaving his wife and daughter back in Trinidad. He rented a small property on the same street as his employer and saved his earnings for a few years. His family joined him in 2003 when Sabrina was thirteen years old. They bought a home on the same street in the small town of Hopewell New Jersey.

Sadly, Kissuns strong work ethic that provided his family prosperity and opportunity was the reason he contracted COVID-19 in late March while working on a property in town. Kissun was 57 when he died. Sabrina and her family are now left in a house filled with possessions and memories that once belonged to her father.

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Sabrinas father often used his tractor for various side jobs or helping neighbors around town. The tractor remains in his family’s backyard today.

Losing a parent is something that everyone experiences in their lifetime, however the death of Sabrina’s father came much too soon with Sabrina only being thirty years old when he died.

Sabrina handled his death with a wise perspective. Rather than spending her days crying and wondering “why him,” “why me,” “why our family,” she has the perspective that life and its turns of events are uncontrollable.

Sabrina Nandram stands next to her fathers old truck while talking to her mother on the phone in Hopewell N.J. Sabrina is currently in the process of selling old equipment and posessions that once belonged to her father.

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Sabrina Nandrams shadow through the window of her fathers tractor in Hopewell N.J.

Sabrina says, “I thought for the longest time that bad things don’t happen to good people, but I realize now that it doesn’t work like that. Life is so random and you just gotta roll with everything.

Nothing is in your control and people will die. You can’t let that break you and even when it kinda does, you gotta keep pushing.”

This is a wise perspective especially coming from someone who lost a loved one in such an unexpected way. Although she misses her father and thinks about him everyday, she makes it a priority to accept that she cannot change the past and must push on to the future.

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Sabrina laughs next to her Fathers self portrait on the bathroom door in their basement.

Sabrina Nandram sitting on the toilet her father always used in her basement in Hopewell N.J.

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Sabrina Nandrams garage filled with her fathers posessions in Hopewell N.J. Sabrina is still in the process of organizing and is looking to eventually sell her fathers posessions.

Sabrina Nandram talks to her husband on the phone in her basement in Hopewell N.J.

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Sabrina Nandram sits on her fathers old bed in Hopewell N.J. Sabrinas parents primarily slept in separate rooms, but Sabrina would often catch them sneaking into eachothers rooms for the night.

Sabrina has been the source of strength for her family over the past year, spending her days consoling family members on the phone and powering through the pain that this year has caused. But even in her strength certain things will break her down. She knows that she did not have control over what happened to her father and she has for the most part come to terms with his death.

However, when Sabrina found out that she was expecting her first child she could not help but be devastated over the fact that her father will never meet his granddaughter.

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Family photos in Sabrina Nandrams house honoring her fathers life in Hopewell N.J.

Sabrina is not one for crying, but talking about this subject brings her to tears. Sabrina is about three months pregnant and expecting her daughter in June of 2021. Her father may be gone, but her daughter will grow up in a house filled with his memories.

Whether it be through his personal belongings, the halfway renovated kitchen, the backyard creek where they scattered his ashes, or his self portraits on the bathroom wall, the presence of Sabrina’s father will live on.

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Sabrina is expecting her first child in june of 2021. she is thankful to bring new life into a home that has been through so much loss this year.

Sabrina Nandram closes her eyes by the creek where months ago she scattered her fathers ashes in Hopewell N.J.

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