Bolton: Daughter honours her dad in final stages of his life

Anita Halai’s dad Ramesh Varsani, 64, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013.

He since recovered from that following an operation but was told it could come back.

Since then his "quality of life" wasn’t the same, and he is now faced with the devastating condition of heart failure after being diagnosed in June 2016, with two stents inserted.

Both his kidneys have also been falling since August 2018 and he has been receiving dialysis three times a week for 3.5 hours a week at Bolton Renal Unit.

Ramesh with his wife Valbai (Image: Public)

Despite his illnesses, Ramesh has remained there for his family, still doing everything he can for people.

Ramesh had several successful businesses including Bargain Booze in Atherton, which has now been taken over by his son Nitesh Varsani and is very much a family business.

Ramesh’s family are now preparing for his end-of-life care at home where he will be looked after by the Macmillan team.

Anita said: “What he went through was an eye opener because until it happens to you, you don’t feel the pain of it.

“I am grateful that the cancer treatment he got helped us to have more time with him.

“All of the community have been great and supported him.”

Ramesh with his family (Image: Public)

Ramesh came to Great Lever in Bolton at a young age from Kampala in Uganda. 

He left a legacy behind telling his children to “work hard in life but to also enjoy life, and to have a good balance”.

He was also a very keen member of the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Bolton, and his faith came from being a part of that community.

Anita said: “He’s never done bad to anybody, and he has always been the first to help anybody who has needed it.

“He is just a very relaxed person and tried to help as many people as possible whilst keeping himself to himself.

“He has a very fun-loving warm personality.”

Ramesh has two daughters named Anita, Erica Rabadia, and two sons, Nitesh Varsani and Bharat Varsani, and is part of a very large and close family.

He has also been married to Valbai for 46 years, who he loves dearly.

Ramesh with his loving family (Image: Public)

Anita says that she has come to terms with her dad not having long "as much as they can" and that they have spent as much time together as they can.

She explained that her faith is was gives her strength.

Anita added: “Knowing you come here with nothing, and you go with nothing helps me be stronger.

“You should celebrate the life and we think about the good things he’s leaving behind.

“And he has given us a lot of support helped us through life as a father and community man.”

She has since raised £1,280 for Movember Europe in aid of several illnesses affecting men.

Anita added: “For me, the main thing was that my dad suffered from prostate cancer and seeing what he went through with it made me want to raise awareness for those male illnesses and what they go through.

“Mental health is also something that especially in men is hard to talk about because they have this side where they have feelings and emotions and need support.

“A lot of people don’t realise certain illnesses affect men.”

Some of the friends in the community helping her were her husband Prakash Halai, Shuresh Pindoria, Harish Varsnai, and Sid Raghwani.

Prakash also donated a large amount from the company he works at, Laltex in Leigh.

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If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.