Mansfield dad given guard of honour by hospital staff after recovering from coronavirus

Staff at the hospital formed a guard of honour for the 64-year-old who had been unable to have any visitors during his Covid-19 treatment.

Back at home on Cherry Grove, dad of two Mr Logan said he would like to thank “Every single nurse, doctor and physiotherapist” who had taken care of him care of him and continue to support his recovery.

His eldest daughter Michelle Matchett spoke of the close family’s enormous relief after his recovery and said they had been told to prepare for the worst several times during his stay at the hospital.

Michelle said: “We have never been away from each other more than a week or two in our whole lives, and for the first few weeks he wasn’t able to speak to us. We are just so so relived he was able to come home as there where so many occasions where we didn’t believe he would.”

“Dad didn’t have any existing health conditions apart from being on blood pressure medication and a few issues with circulation about 10 years ago. My mum became poorly first and as soon as she became unwell they both self isolated. We would all nip down and leave them shopping on the garden. Dad was OK for a week or so, then he just starting going downhill.”

At King’s Mill Hospital an X-Ray and CT scan showed he had suffered a stroke and he had pneumonia and severe lung damage caused by Covid-19.

She added: “The few days we rang often to get as many updates as we could. He was on 100 per cent oxygen and still struggling.

“He was a suitable candidate for ventilation - the doctors told us he wouldn’t cope with being sedated, his lungs wouldn’t cope and he would very likely have a massive stroke that would leave him severely disabled.

“There would be no extreme or invasive measures to save him, which was devastating to hear, but we understood.”

“His biggest battle was the oxygen.

“He couldn’t be lowered with his blood pressure plummeting and his stats deteriorating, he was constantly on antibiotics, he wasn’t eating,

At one point he became unresponsive and doctors suspected he had suffered another stroke

However following a blood transfusion his oxygen levels rose and he began to turn the corner.

She said: “He started eating more and then one day he rang sobbing down the phone – we all panicked, but he said: “I’m coming home I’m coming home.”

“There aren’t words that can express how we feel as a whole family about everyone who was involved in caring for Dad.

“They told us so many times to be prepared as he was approaching end of life.

“We needed to stay positive but also be cautious – and they kept saving him.

“He said all the nurses were amazing. For them to go to work everyday at risk of catching this virus is inspiring. We want to thank them from the bottom of our hearts.”