I Beat COVID-19: My Story

Daily COVID-19 updates have become the new norm. Unfortunately I found out just how truly devastating this disease is having tested positive. Late March my life was very quickly turned upside down. I recall it being a beautiful sunny day sitting on the sofa struggling to breathe. Something I’ve been accustom to over the years with asthma but this was different, very different. It was to the point where I couldn’t take my inhaler. I knew something wasn’t right. My wife Sarah rushed me to Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) and I was immediately placed in the COVID unit. Slightly naive, I thought I’d be in and out. I was wrong! My oxygen saturation levels were low and temperature high and as such, I put on oxygen and closely monitored. After a chest x-ray, it was clear that I had severe pneumonia. Several hours passed and I was in need of more and more oxygen. It was at this point the Consultant said “I think the best thing for you would be the ventilator to allow your body to rest”. For me, it felt like the beginning of the end but I vividly recall feeling so unwell I was willing to try anything. I then started to make video calls telling friends and family how much I love them, saying goodnight and see you on the other side. I remember asking Sarah for Matilda to sleep my side of the bed – a feeling I never, ever want to experience again. A little later, there were three anaesthetists in the room explaining what was going to happen and I remember asking them not to forget about me. I remember one of them firmly holding my hand saying “I promise I will look after you. Everything is going to be ok I promise. You’re in the best possible care. Think of something really nice”.

Having spent nine days fighting for my life, there were bright lights and doctors and nurses shouting “Nick, Nick, come on Nick”. I was awake! What felt like the fastest nine days ever was indeed the longest and most suffering time for my family and friends. Sarah was incredibly strong, dealing with this whilst keeping things normal for my daughter Matilda especially given that lock down was in full force. She’d phone the hospital several times a day. I recall the first evening of being conscious in Intensive Care and the phone rang, the doctor answered “Intensive Care” quickly followed by “hello Sarah my love” whilst looking at me. My eyes filled with tears. Having lost a third of muscle mass, I was incredibly weak not even able to hold my mobile phone. I asked the nurse to turn on my phone, enter my password and prop my phone and I started the video calls. Very few words were exchanged – there were tears everywhere even the doctors and nurses looking after me were in tears. Not being able to walk, I started the process of having Physio to make me mobile again.

Three long days in Intensive Care passed and I was moved to Ward 21. Feeling better, however, still being fed by an intravenous drip but slowly becoming envious of the breakfast trolley. Before long, my feeding tube and catheter were removed and all that remained was the cannula. I was finally getting back some independence. I could finally tuck in to the fruit juice and Weetabix that I craved. Receiving daily Physio and visits from doctors, my progress was moving in the right direction and was able to get out of bed and sit in the chair without help. All that was in the way of me and my sofa was a golden ticket held by the Physio. I passed the test, got the golden ticket to go home and the 9th April 2020 is a date I will never forget, but this is just the start of the physical and mental help I’ll be in need of.

Not only do I want to raise money, I also want to raise awareness of this awful disease. I’m often asked, “what would be one piece of advice you’d offer”? My answer is simple – don’t think it won’t happen to you regardless of age and underlying health conditions. There is little press regarding post COVID-19 rehabilitation in terms of physical and mental recovery. This is arguably more important and I personally think this should have more focus as this recovery process takes far longer and requires you to fully understand what happened, how it happened and why it happened, which is something that is incredibly hard to face. The impact is also on the patient’s family who are equally affected. I truly feel that there will be a surge in mental health referrals in months or years to come as a result of COVID-19. Shortly after hospital I had a break down, my daily and weekly activities that were once done without a single thought, have now become anxiety filled daily and weekly goals. Leaving hospital does not simply mean you’re better, it means you’re at the start of your recovery.

I’m raising money for MKUH for the care I received. There is no sum of money that could pay for the care I received. Some of the people that cared for me have now become friends. I’ll be forever grateful to MKUH and all of the staff that cared and continue to care for me. The money will also go to good use to support the post COVID-19 teams such Physiotherapy, Mental Health and the Deep Vein Thrombosis Clinic. These teams that are instrumental in getting patients back to their normal way of life.

The NHS is simply the finest healthcare system in the world and it is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Not all heroes wear capes!

Enjoy the videos below.

Thanks very much

Nick

COVID-19 Rehabilitation - Click Here

Leaving Hospital - Click Here