An NHS worker has been reunited with her daughter after nearly six weeks being treated for coronavirus.
Ann McFayden, 63, was fighting for her life in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for three weeks in an intensive care unit, in an induced coma.
The gran, who has worked as a domestic for the NHS for more than 20 years, was released on Weds with medics forming a guard of honor, five-and-a-half weeks after being admitted.
Her daughter, Sharon McDonald, 34, feared she would be planning her mum’s funeral rather than welcoming her home.
She is her mum’s only child and was terrified at the prospect of losing her.
Mum-of-three Sharon said: “I cannot put into words just how happy I am to be getting my mum home. I honestly thought this day would never come.
“I can’t thank the ICU staff enough. They saved her life and gave me my mum back.
“They were amazing.
“When she was in a coma, her nurse would call me and ask what mattered to my mum?
“They wanted to know her interests and her favourite music.
“When I asked why she said: ‘I want to talk to your mum and play her music she loves. I need to know what she cares about most.’
“So they played her Lewis Capaldi and talked to her about her grand-daughters.
‘I went to bed every night wondering who I could invite to her funeral and had to hide just how bad she was from my girls.’
Sharon McDonald
“I was amazed. Not only were they looking after her physically, they truly cared and went above and beyond every day.
“They kept us informed about every development and were completely honest with us.
“I went to bed every night wondering who I could invite to her funeral and had to hide just how bad she was from my girls.
“But that nightmare is over and she’s coming home.”
Gran-of-three Ann, from Drumchapel, Glasgow, had been admitted on April 21 after falling ill.
Her boss at the Brownlee Centre at Gartnavel Hospital is Marjorie McCulloch, who was delighted to greet her colleague as she left the Queen Elizabeth.
Marjorie said: “I can’t express enough, how thoroughly delighted we all are to hear of Ann’s recovery.
“Ann is a truly valued member of our team and has never been far from our thoughts. She is known for her smiling face and sunny nature.
“This has been a very anxious wait for all her family, friends and colleagues at the Gartnavel Hospitals and will offer a huge lift to all hospital workers at what can only be described as one of the most challenging times we have ever experienced in the NHS.
“We would also like to pay a huge tribute to our dedicated, hard-working colleagues at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital who have nursed and cared for Ann throughout her illness. You are all heroes, inspirational and deserve our life-long gratitude.”
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