Modi was a happy, wise and level-headed little girl, according to her father, Bafta winner Jason Watkins. Her mother, fashion designer Clara Francis, describes her as simply “fun”. Photos of babies reflect their words. Running around in overalls, learning to juggle, with blond hair in a bun and a big smile on her face, Modi looks like a normal kid: full of life and ready to take on the world.
That’s what makes her death so devastating on New Year’s Day 2011, when she was only two and a half years old.
Jason and Clara: In memory of Modi, The ITV1 documentary in which Modi’s parents tell her story has never been easy. But while my tears were flowing for the better part of an hour, it was an incredibly inspiring and surprisingly reassuring film.
Modi died of sepsis, a severe reaction to an infection that, although life-threatening, is treatable if detected early. Unfortunately, the symptoms were overlooked and the cause of death was not discovered until several months later during the investigation. “There’s anger here,” admitted Watkins, who maintained an air of cheerfulness throughout. Francis was much more emotional and walked away from the cameras several times to cry in private. It may have been more than a decade since Modi left her, but the grief has never gone away.
It is difficult (if not impossible) for me to put into words the pain that Watkins and Francis clearly felt during filming, not least because they often had trouble expressing their feelings. They wanted to tell Modi’s story for two reasons: first, they wanted to move out, leaving the apartment where Modi was born (literally Frances gave birth to her) and died. And secondly, they were forced to highlight the symptoms of sepsis. But even this noble cause was born of grief, and Watkins confessed that if he could stop the children dying from the disease, Modi would somehow come back to him.
The emotional side of the documentary came about when Francis’ boyfriend delivered things to Modi, which the family had given her for safekeeping. Frances reached into her pocket and pulled out her daughter’s little shoes. She eventually forced herself to pick her up and take her to her new home, with Watkins taking some dolls and a pet bunny stuffed toy to remember her. It was devastating to watch.
On the more medical side of the program, we followed Watkins to King’s College Hospital to see how nurses and doctors learned to recognize the signs of sepsis. Watching the professionals view the case showed how easy it was to overlook the symptoms, although Watkins found this unsurprising. The exercise brought him back to the state before Modi’s death, when doctors had no idea what was wrong with her.
Hope, as always in these heartbreaking circumstances, came with the realization that no one is alone. Francis led a support group for other parents who lost their children (some as little as five months ago), while Watkins visited the grounds of his beloved football club, Queens Park Rangers, to meet other fathers who had lost their daughters. “They say men don’t talk. Men talk, we just need support, ”he reflected. I am sure that many viewers who have experienced the loss of a child feel just as seen as those who were involved in the filming.
Most of us know how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the rhythm of Lost, and thanks to this chilling TV commercial, many of us may notice the signs of a stroke. But even though sepsis kills at least 52,000 people in the UK every year, many of us have no idea what to look for. Symptoms in adults and older children include blue, gray, pale, or patchy skin, lips, or tongue, while people of color may have this discoloration of the palms; a rash that doesn’t go away when you roll a glass over it slurred speech or confusion; and breathing difficulties. Babies and young children may cry louder than usual, become more sleepy, or lose interest in normal activities such as eating. As Watkins said, it is critical that the signs of sepsis become better known to both healthcare professionals and the general public.
Jason & Clara: In Memory of Modi was for an indefinite period – after all, there is no end to such grief – but I hope this helped the couple a little and made the transition from the Modi house a little easier. And if the purpose of the film was to create a permanent public record of how much Modi was loved, then the job was done. What a privilege to be invited into her world and watch some home videos of her pushing a stroller around her yard and playing with her older sister.
Thank you Jason and Clara for letting us meet your little girl. She will definitely not be forgotten.
Source: I News
I am Harvey Rodriguez, an experienced news reporter and author with 24 News Reporters. My main areas of expertise are in entertainment and media. I have a passion for uncovering stories about the people behind the scenes that bring the entertainment world to life. I take pride in providing my readers with timely and accurate information on all aspects of the entertainment industry.