'Fit and healthy' fireman spent 10 days in intensive care with coronavirus
A 'fit and healthy' firefighter spent 10 days in intensive care afterbeing struck down by coronavirus.
Children's nurse Becky Landon says her husband Stevesuffered with cold-like symptoms before collapsing twice andstruggling to breathe.
The 39-year-old Deeside firefighter was taken to Wrexham MaelorHospital for treatment.
Becky said the virus was like a "roller coaster" that could make apatient's health deteriorate just when they appear to be gettingbetter.
The dad-of-four, who lives in Wrexham, came out of intensive careon Monday, but is still receiving oxygen on another ward.
40-year-old Becky, who works on the Maelor's children's ward said: "Steve and I started having cold-like symptoms so we both went into self isolation".
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Becky said by March 28, Steve was extremely pale, his cough hadworsened and he collapsed, so she called the GP again and was told toring for an ambulance.
She added: "Steve's oxygen levels were really low and his temperaturewas high so they decided to take him to hospital.
"That was the worst bit, not being able to go with him.
"Steve wanted to walk to the ambulance himself, but his legs wouldn'tcarry him and he collapsed in the lounge so they had to bring a chairto him.
"I was trying to shield the children because it was quite traumaticfor them seeing crews in their masks and protective clothing givingoxygen to their dad.
"My daughter told me all she can remember is her dad in the chair, itwas horrible."
Steve was assessed at the accident and emergency department beforebeing moved to the critical care unit.
He spent one night there after "perking up" and was moved to a ward,but 12 hours later, his condition deteriorated and he returned tocritical care where he spent 10 days.
He was put on a CPAP (pressurised oxygen) machine and thankfullydidn't need a ventilator but had to have a chest drain put in when oneof his lungs collapsed.
On Monday, he was finally able to go back on to the ward again.Becky said: "Steve is doing better but we think he will be in hospitalfor a while.
Becky described her heartbreak when she received a video Steve had tried to send telling his children how much he loves them.
He couldn't breathe and Becky decided the video was too distressing toshow 14-year-old Caleb, 13-year-old Evie, 11-year-old Abigail andseven-year-old Seth.
She recalled: "He couldn't breathe long enough to string a sentencetogether, he was gasping for breath, it was awful. I couldn't show thekids that.
"When we speak to him now, there's definitely an improvement, eventhough he still needs oxygen.
"He's got a long journey to recovery but he'll get there, he's a fighter".