WONDERFUL! 94-Year-Old Woman Becomes The Oldest Person In UK To Survive Coronavirus
Joy, who has asked for her surname to not be revealed, is back home after battling the infection for nine days in James Paget Hospital, Gorleston, Norfolk. She has credited NHS staff for her amazing recovery, saying to them: ‘Thank you for the wonderful care.’ Retired nurse
Joy said she was ‘absolutely overjoyed’ at how helpful and brilliant everyone was at the hospital. She added: ‘I couldn’t fault them for helping so many people.’ Her family, who described her as ‘amazingly fit and healthy for her age’ have now nicknamed her ‘Supergran’ and ‘Miracle Lady.’
Joy, who has three children, seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, fell ill on March 20 at her residential home in north Suffolk. She called the 111 helpline to report that she had breathing difficulties and a high temperature, and the call handler sent an ambulance to bring her to hospital straight away because of her age.
Tests at the hospital later revealed she had both pneumonia and coronavirus. Her grandson Toby Basil, of Leiston, Suffolk, said: ‘To begin with, it was a suspected chest infection or pneumonia because of the way the symptoms presented themselves.
‘When we found out that she had tested positive for both coronavirus and pneumonia, my mum thought that was it. ‘I was a little bit more positive about it as I try to see the best and be optimistic, but mum was very worried.
‘They kept her in for nine to ten days, monitoring her temperature and looking after her. We weren’t able to see her. ‘After nine days, she was not getting any worse and she was so chirpy and full of energy – so they felt it was better for her to get out of the environment where she could get ill again.
‘That’s amazing in itself. She’s done remarkably well. She said every member of staff was brilliant. She couldn’t fault the care – everyone was so lovely.’ Joy is now in isolation at her residential home for another 14 days, to make sure she does not pass on the virus to others.
Mr Basil said her illness showed the huge dangers of coronavirus and the need for people to stick to social distancing rules. He added: ‘I was shocked that Gran had got it. She only regularly comes into contact with about 20 people because she lives in a very small residential home, not a care home.
‘That puts into perspective how this virus is spreading. I don’t think people appreciate how easy it is to get it. People don’t seem to understand that.
