On the 9th February 2021 my mum was taken into Whiston Hospital as she was having trouble breathing and my mums oxygen levels where at a dangerously low level. Just 50%. We were told that mum was really poorly. Mum was responding to having cpap, all was looking ok. The phone rang at 5am on the 10th Feb to say that mum was struggling as she was getting really tired. Which meant she had to be put on a ventilator. The nurses said we could facetime mum before she was put on the vent, but she didn’t have her phone with her. So, we told mum that we loved her, it was heart breaking.

Later that day a Lady called Emma called she is a rehabilitation Sister who works at Whiston. She was explaining that mum had a chest infection and a throat infection and was given antibiotics, plus steroids. Emma said that herself and a lady called Cathy would ring everyday with updates so that we don’t have to keep ringing for updates. A few days went by and mum was doing well she was alert and moving her arms and legs for physio.

The weekend arrived Cathy our Liaison Nurse called to say that mum had taken a bad turn. My mums breathing tube had leaked and that they had to fully sedate mum. Things started getting worse as the days went by, mums doctor called and explained that mum had severe covid pneumonia, and the amount of oxygen my mum was needing was a great cause for concern. This news was heart breaking to hear but we are keeping positive.

A week later and mum is still sedated and paralysed, and the oxygen mum is needing off the vent is going up and down. They have started proning my mum (laying her on her belly) this is for 16/17 hours per day. Emma and Cathy are still ringing everyday with updates. No change and they are going to schedule a doctor’s call. We hated these doctors’ calls but ok let’s do it. Wow I really wish I had not picked up the phone. The doctor told us how poorly mum was and that if for any reason my mum stopped responding to being on her tummy, then there was nothing more they could do. This was devastating news, and I was a complete wreck. We told our families and we remained positive as my mum was still responding to being proned.

Mum was proned 5 times and then mum started needing less oxygen off the ventilator. Days went by and we would ring on an evening and the nurses would tell us that mum was still on her back and responding really well and they were weaning down mum’s sedation and paralysis. The nurses let me send in my mum’s mobile. We rang it every evening and mums nurse would put the phone on loudspeaker and place it on the pillow next to my mum. They said she could not talk back as she was still sedated but she could hear us.

We carried on getting updates of Emma and Cathy everyday to tell us mum was doing well and was still on her back and her oxygen needed off the ventilator was decreasing. They told us that mum had been referred for a tracheostomy (a breathing tube in the windpipe). They are not sure when, but it would be in that week. The week went on and mum was doing well and on Friday 12th March mum had her tracheostomy. Mums’ nurses said once she has it, she will come on leaps and bounds. The nurse was definitely not lying. After a week and a half of having the tracheostomy mum was taken off the ventilator, she was able to take small steps around her room with the aid of a walking frame. She can sit in a chair, so she is not lay in bed all the time. Mum has now had the tracheostomy removed and is waiting for it to heal. We are now facetiming mum and it is wonderful to see how well she is doing. Mum still has a long way to go in terms of recovery, but we are all going to be with her 100% of the way. All mums’ nurses tell us everyday how amazing mum is and even the doctors are absolutely made up with mums’ progress. We are now waiting for mum to come out of ICU and be placed on another ward why she builds up her strength a bit more before coming home.

I would like to say to every nurse, doctor, consultant, physio, speech therapy, Emma and Cathy our Liaison Nurses, and anyone I may have missed a massive THANK YOU! The smallest things like combing my mum’s hair, holding her hand, and telling her everything is ok and pulling them selves away from patients to update my dad and I on how mum is. I can honestly say that I am so grateful for everything that you have done. You have all gone above and beyond for us all and for that we are truly grateful that my mum gets to see her family again when she finally comes home. There is no way to personally thank every one of you, but we are forever truly grateful for everything you have done for my mum, dad, and me.