Grandfather celebrates 50th birthday after recovering from coronavirus
Richard Bates from Aspley, Nottingham is back home celebrating his 50th birthday on Monday, May 25 with his family.
Just a few weeks earlier he was being cared for by teams of doctors and nurses at Nottingham University Hospitals after being diagnosed with Covid-19.
Mr Bates has now described his three-week hospital battle against the 'evil' virus and how he spent a week on a ventilator when his condition got worse.
Richard said: “The doctors and nurses at the hospital were so forthcoming and the care they gave me was amazing, I cannot say that enough. This is an evil virus and it is not one that I would wish upon anybody."
The grandfather was unable to see his wife Amanda, children or grandchild.
Richard became worried about his health after he became unwell with sickness. He was not initially displaying symptoms of a cough, high temperature or loss of taste or smell.
He called 111 and was told to go to a healthcare centre. Richard was admitted to the Respiratory Assessment Unit at City Hospital on April 11 and after a check, he was moved on to a ward. He was then told that he had tested positive for Coronavirus.
Mr Bates said: “After a week of incredible care I was still not improving, so was moved to the Intensive Care Unit.
“Two days later I was put on a ventilator to give me the best chance to survive. One long week passed and they woke me and within another 48 hours I was on a COVID Rehab ward to focus on my recovery.”
Rehabilitation for patients starts in the Intensive Care Unit, including those who have Coronavirus.
Richard said he had to learn how to do many things for himself again including walking and talking because he lost "so much strength" but added that the team "could not have done enough" for him.
Richard said he was looking forward to celebrating his birthday with his family.
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