A Ugandan orphan who was helped by the late Denise Robertson has named his baby son after the This Morning agony aunt.
Fred Ssemmanda, who was able to go to school and university due to Denise’s fundraising, broke down in tears as he spoke about how much Denise had meant to him.
He had met Denise 17 years ago with his brother Emmanuel after they lost both of their parents due to HIV/AIDS.
Denise had been overcome with emotion at the boys’ situation and later helped raise money to help them go to school.
Showing his baby son on This Morning to hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, he revealed that his son’s name is Dennis Robertson Ssemmanda.
Following Denise’s death, Fred set up nonprofit organisation Denise Foundation Uganda to pay tribute to her after she took the lead of fundraising for his education and built better shelter for himself and his brother.
Explaining how he and his partner Sandra had come up with the name of their son, he said that he had a “strong attachment” to the name Denise, which had inspired his son’s name Dennis.
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nnewcastle chronicle)
“It’s a wonderful tribute to Denise,” Ruth said. “Congratulations to you and your partner Sandra. How much did Sandra know about Denise and how important she was in your life?”
“Actually, wherever I am I always… I can’t leave that place without missing Denise,” he replied. “It is so close to my heart and [when I met Sandra] she used to ask me, ‘Fred, I always hear you say ‘Denise, Denise’. Who is Denise?’
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ITV)
“I was like, ‘Wow, Denise is my guardian angel who started taking care of me from childhood with my brother.'”
Fred began to tear up as he said that he had been “heartbroken” over Denise’s death in 2016.
As he was quizzed by Ruth Langsford about whether he was OK, he said: “I’m fine, I’m fine.”
Denise died aged 83 years old after being diagnosed in early 2016 with pancreatic cancer.
This Morning later made an emotional tribute programme dedicated to her in April that year.
*This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV
Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/ugandan-orphan-helped-mornings-denise-24801647