“They were all angels”: Guildford man credits Intensive Care Team for saving his life from Covid-19
Samuel, a 60-year-old credit analyst from Guildford, is on the road to recovery after spending nine weeks on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with Covid-19.
After initially thinking he was just overworked, he began to feel gradually worse with symptoms including a sore throat, headache and lethargy. Four days later his wife called an ambulance after he became severely short of breath with a high temperature.
Once admitted Samuel was placed on a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine to support his breathing. After not responding as well as was hoped, Samuel was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and was intubated and ventilated for just over four weeks.
Samuel commented on how his family felt during that time: "My family were incredibly concerned and frightened but they received daily calls from the ICU Team with updates on my condition, which helped them to feel informed."
After four weeks Samuel began to recover and he was gradually brought out of sedation.
In a touching moment, Samuel celebrated his 60th birthday while on the unit. The team organised for his family to stand outside the hospital and sing happy birthday to him, using a walkie talkie so he could hear them.
Sue Herson, ICU Matron said it was an "extremely emotional moment".
Samuel has been getting stronger every day and although he doesn’t yet have the strength to stand, he has lots of help from the physiotherapists to increase his mobility and can now move his arms and legs.
When asked about the team who cared for him during those extremely anxious nine weeks, Samuel said: "They are all angels and have been marvellous, supportive and loving and I am so grateful to them all. The ICU Physiotherapy Team were also absolutely amazing and I can’t thank them enough."
Samuel has now been discharged from Intensive Care onto a ward at the hospital and is looking forward to getting home to his family.