‘Miracle’ Burgess Hill dad enjoys first McDonald’s after beating coronavirus

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A Burgess Hill dad who came close to death after contracting coronavirus has tucked into his first McDonald’s after beating the deadly disease.

Kalvin Mahoney has been described by healthcare workers as a ‘miracle’.

The 59-year-old was so sick in hospital that doctors were preparing to announce his death to his family.

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He was put in an induced coma for two months, was on a ventilator and had to have dialysis because his kidneys started failing.

Kalvin Mahoney enjoying his Filet-0-Fish meal from McDonald'sKalvin Mahoney enjoying his Filet-0-Fish meal from McDonald's
Kalvin Mahoney enjoying his Filet-0-Fish meal from McDonald's

But the dad-of-four has made a miracle recovery and said this week that it felt ‘marvellous’ to be alive.

“It feels like I am meant to be here – god has given me a second chance,” he said, adding: “I took life for granted. I am going to look at life with a different attitude now.”

But Kalvin still has a long way to go in his recovery. He is having to learn to walk again.

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“My muscles feel like jelly – if I walk just a few steps it feels like I have ran a marathon.”

Kalvin Mahoney in hospital with his son, Niel, by his sideKalvin Mahoney in hospital with his son, Niel, by his side
Kalvin Mahoney in hospital with his son, Niel, by his side

Kalvin is having physiotherapy at the Kleinwort Centre in Haywards Heath after being transferred from the Princess Royal Hospital and Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

He said the treatment has been ‘fantastic’, describing the NHS workers as ‘amazing’.

He added: “I really do thank the NHS and appreciate that we have such a great healthcare system.”

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Kalvin said he remembers waking up from the coma and not knowing where he was.

Kalvin Mahoney with his daughter, Kayleigh, 16, and son, Niel, 28Kalvin Mahoney with his daughter, Kayleigh, 16, and son, Niel, 28
Kalvin Mahoney with his daughter, Kayleigh, 16, and son, Niel, 28

“I was having nightmares and hallucinations,” he said.

He added that he was careful about the virus as he has asthma and diabetes. He said he isolated at home with his son, Zack, and only went shopping for essentials and to the doctor’s.

“The virus is deadly – it’s out there and anybody can catch it,” said Kalvin.

“If this story helps somebody – you hear of people dying but you don’t hear much about the survivors and what they went through.”

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Kalvin was found with a sloped face in the front room at his flat in Burgess Hill on April 3.

His son, Zack, 18, thought he was having a stroke and called for an ambulance. He was rushed to hospital where his condition deteriorated quickly and he tested positive for Covid-19.

His other son, Niel, 28, said: “He went from facetiming my auntie to not being conscious in a couple of days. He never had a cough or temperature or anything.

“The nurses said to us on May 20, that they thought dad wasn’t going to make it and we should come in and say goodbye. But two to three weeks later he started showing small signs of improvement and was taken off the ventilator.

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“The nurses described him as their miracle patient and kept a daily diary of his recovery.”

Niel said one of his dad’s first requests after regaining consciousness was a Filet-O-Fish meal from McDonald’s.

“I went and got it for him at the Burgess Hill drive-thru,” said Niel, adding: “He was so happy – he was also asking for a cup of tea.”

He said the ‘scary’ experience for the family had brought them closer together: “It has been horrible, but at the same time has been very rewarding.

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“My dad is here at the end of the day and we are all super proud of him and how well he has fought.

“We are not massively religious but maybe there is someone who is looking out for him.

“Now we are through it, we are blessed because we still have dad.”

Niel said he hopes their story will give other people hope, but remind them that even though they may be being careful, they could still catch the virus.

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He said: “I look at the news and when they say the number of people have died, that is many families that have gone through what I have gone through, but they have got that dreaded phone call, thankfully I never got this call.

“You think you won’t know anyone who has got it – I thought that.

“It is scary and and even now dad is struggling. He is having to learn to walk again – it is almost like his body has gone through a car crash.”

Niel thanked his auntie, Charmaine O’Hara, for her support and for phoning the hospital every day.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

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