The 65-year-old man, who nearly lost his life when his organs were severely damaged by the Coronavirus, said “If my COVID Survivor’s Story encourages just one person to get vaccinated against this virus then I will be happy.” According to his family, he was hospitalized for nearly 3 months. The 65-year-old man was initially cared for on the COVID-19 unit. But, his condition deteriorated and he was moved to the Intensive Care Unit, where he was put on a ventilator and into an induced coma.
The 65-year-old man, Derek Walsh, was first admitted to the hospital in October 2020. He reportedly suffered a severe headache and breathing difficulties. He was hospitalized for nearly 3 months and nearly lost his life in the hospital when his kidneys and lungs were severely damaged by COVID-19, the Mirror reports.
The 65-year-old man is now encouraging others to get vaccinated. According to his family, while Walsh was initially cared for on the Covid-19 unit, his condition deteriorated and he was moved to the Intensive Care Unit, where he was put on a ventilator and into an induced coma.
In December, the 65-year-old man reportedly developed sepsis. Derek’s wife, Sue, was told that her husband may not survive. Luckily, the 65-year-old man survived to tell the story of his extraordinary experience.
“I have always considered myself to be an active person so learning to cope with and accept some of the physical and even mental limitations is not always easy. I still have symptoms of long COVID and experience many different feelings and emotions but I am on the whole very happy and glad to be alive.
I am sincerely grateful to each and every person who has been involved in all of my care and treatment whether directly or indirectly, front line or background support, both past, present and future because without you all the outcome of this story could have been very different.” he wrote in his COVID Survivor’s Story.
Derek really hopes that his COVID story will be a morale boost for the hospital staff, because he saw first-hand what they put into caring for people. He also hopes that his story helps other people. “If it encourages just one person to get vaccinated against this virus then I will be happy.” the 65-year-old man said.
According to his family, Derek still needs support from the hospital, after his kidneys and lungs were damaged by the virus.
Derek Walsh reportedly said: “I still have symptoms of Long Covid and experience many different feelings and emotions, but I am on the whole very happy and glad to be alive.
I am sincerely grateful to each and every person who has been involved in all of my care and treatment, whether directly or indirectly, frontline or background support, both past, present and future, because without you all, the outcome of this story could have been very different.
The unwavering devotion of care and treatment from you all throughout my journey has far exceeded the expected call of duty and I am, and will always be forever, in your debt for all the blood, sweat, tears and care you give to all of your patients, not just myself.”
His wife, Sue, said that when doctors told her that they didn’t think he would make it, she sat on her own at home and prayed. “I’m not a religious person, but I prayed. I was the happiest woman on earth when he started to show signs of recovery.” she said
One of the doctors who cared for the 65-year-old man while he was in hospital and now in his clinic, Dr Mansoor Ali, reportedly said: “The road to recovery was slow yet tumultuous, but was only possible due to sheer determination from within to get better. The support and the supervision of his wife Sue and the wonderful staff, who did everything possible, carried out every investigation available, and provided every treatment option thinkable to keep Mr Walsh alive.
I look forward to seeing him every 6-8 weeks in my clinic. My happiness knew no bounds when I first saw him walk to the clinic with a stick in March 2021 and I can’t describe my feelings when I see him come to the clinic all dressed up and looking so good and better in himself in March 2022 – exactly a year since his discharge.
This story is truly remarkable and it goes on to tell you that COVID is there, COVID is real, COVID exists and COVID affects people and causes life changing complications, but thanks to the NHS, its resilient staff and its management, we have been able to provide an excellent treatment to our patients and see them recover from it.”