‘I am his family’: Durban widow raises son alone after losing husband and mother

In December 2025, a Durban widow named Zaheera Khan found herself navigating an unimaginable tragedy after losing both her husband and her mother within a span of two months. Khan, 27 at the time, was returning home from the United Arab Emirates, where she worked as a teacher, when she experienced this unimaginable loss. Her husband, Reagan Meshach Naidoo, 24, died in a tragic accident just two months after her mother, Nasreen Khan, 51, had passed away.

"*I never imagined that at 27 I would have experienced the kind of loss that would change the entire course of my life*," Khan said. Khan's mother had been suffering from severe health issues, including amputations of both legs and multiple infections, for months before succumbing to gangrene. Khan's grief was further compounded when she discovered that she was pregnant in the midst of her sorrow.

The news brought both happiness and profound pain, as her mother never got to see her become a mother. Khan's grief was further compounded by the tragic loss of her husband, Reagan, after he was involved in a serious accident while on his way to fetch her from the airport. Reagan suffered a severe brain injury and spent six days in the hospital before succumbing to his injuries.

Khan, four months pregnant at the time, was left to mourn both her mother and her husband alone. She returned to work in the UAE while grieving, struggling to function and cope with her profound loss. Despite the immense grief and isolation, Khan delivered a healthy baby boy, Meshach, on May 4, 2026. Her friend's mother, Saras Reddy, provided essential support during this difficult time, reminding Khan painfully of what she had lost.