Teddy isolated from wife and children
A Dunleer native has been forced to self-isolate from his wife and children - but has found a way to stay close to home by taking up residence in a caravan parked outside the family abode.
Teddy Malone (56) suffers from the serious lung condition Sarcoidosis which would leave him extremely vulnerable to the effects of Covid-19.
As a result, Teddy must stay away from his wife Margaret and his two daughters Sophie and Ciara to minimise the risk of contracting the disease.
Teddy was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis seven years ago and tests showed the condition had left scarring on his lung leaving him particularly at risk to the effects of the Coronavirus, which causes severe respiratory issues.
‘If I was to get it it would become a major problem for me and at it’s worst it wouldn’t be worth thinking about,’ he told the Drogheda Independent.
Teddy, who was once crowned Lord Mayor of Dunleer, maintains strong links to home town despite living in Kilkenny for more than 25 years and was delighted to welcome the Scoraiocht Lannleire Mummers to his adopted home back in 2015.
Explaining how his condition affects him, Teddy revealed: ‘I was disagnosed with Sarcoidosis about seven years ago when my breathing became very difficult and I was very prone to chest infections. It really manifested itself in my ability to breath properly or do much plysical activity without shortness of breath. I was sent to a consultant in Waterford Regional Hospital and he did some blood tests and x-rays of the lungs which revealed scarring caused by the sarcoidosis.’
The treatment for the condition is three inhalers which he uses in the morning, afternoon and at night to keep his airways clear.
After coronavirus began to take hold in Ireland, Teddy and his family decided he should isolate himself from them to safeguard his health.
He now spends the day in the caravan, coming back into the house to sleep in a separate room with his own ensuite at night.
‘ Then in the morning I’m the first one up and out to the caravan which is my home and office for the day,’ said Teddy. ‘ The meals are left in the utility room and I get a phonecall to say they are there.’
Teddy said after making the difficult decision to isolate from his family he contacted Ciaran Walsh, one of his employees in his Ace Chimney Services business, who very generously offered the use of his caravan.
‘All it took was one phonecall and within an hour he had it backed into our driveway,’ he said.
Teddy said that while it has been a difficult adjustment, his family are ‘ the real heroes’ doing everything they can to keep him as safe and healthy as possible. ‘My wife Margaret is playing a blinder and is making most of the sacrifices,’ he said.
‘I’m lucky to have a caravan and the garden and I go for a walk everyday, keeping my social distance at an extreme. We keep in contact through Facetime and the phone so although it is hard to be away from them it’s for the best until they get this disease under control.
‘On a day to day basis I’m grand, Sarcoidosis is not a huge impediment to me ordinarily. I run a successful business and life is normal but when something like this comes along it’s a game changer.’