St Leonards woman spent six days in induced coma after contracting Covid-19

Ruth Andrew, 36, was taken to hospital on March 23 after complaining of breathing difficulties.

She was put into a medically-induced coma and put onto a ventilator in the intensive care unit (ICU), while she was tested for the virus.

When she was brought round – six days later – she was told she had tested positive for Covid-19.

Last Monday (April 6) Ruth was discharged from hospital after 14 days.

She said: “(Staff) told me I was the first person to be discharged having spent time in ICU and I got a lovely ‘guard of honour’ clap from the staff when I was discharged from Baird Ward.

“I would not have survived without them. They are working tirelessly without dropping a smile, even though it’s obvious how much they’re struggling with PPE and stress.

“Obviously no visitors are allowed, so they become the only human contact we have in there and they are fabulous at that alone. Also, for my husband and children, they were providing daily updates on my condition via phone.”

Ruth, a civil servant with no underlying health conditions, said her first symptoms included a persistent cough.

She was sent home from work on March 17 and said she felt ‘ok’ until that evening when she developed a temperature and full body aches.

On the fourth day of her illness, she called 111 and was advised that day four or five is usually the worst and to see it out.

On March 23 – the seventh day of her illness – Ruth’s husband Craig rang 999 after her breathing deteriorated and she was then taken to hospital.

Three weeks later, and now recovering from home, Ruth thanked the ‘amazing people’ working at Conquest Hospital.

She said: “I sadly witnessed a number of people losing their battles with Covid-19 and again, the healthcare staff cannot be faulted. They were the ones holding their hands as these people passed and were so tending and caring. It was beautiful.

“They really are amazing people and deserve as much praise as possible. I certainly owe them everything.

“They gave me a guard of honour, but it should have been me applauding them.”