Paramedic Pat Sheridan moved by colleagues support
COLLEAGUES APPLAUD COUPLE BACK TO THEIR SEATOWN HOME
IT was an ‘extremely emotional’ moment for paramedic Pat Sheridan when his colleagues held a street-wide applause outside his Seatown home, as he and his wife Geraldine recover from Coronavirus.
Pat, who works with Dundalk Ambulance Service, had been struck down with extreme tiredness over Easter weekend.
He told the Argus how he and his wife endured ‘a very rough week’ battling almost identical symptoms. Their daughter, who works at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, also later confirmed positive, but is thankfully also recovering.
‘We really began to be hit with it on Easter Monday. Geraldine had a temperature, which I didn’t really develop, but fatigue was overwhelming. We really just had no energy at all.’
Pat had been ‘very busy’ at work he added, in the run up to Easter, but despite the risks of his job hadn’t been concerned about contracting the virus, as he pointed out staff had been supplied with everything they needed to protect themselves.
It was a ‘ huge shock’ he added when swabs from both himself and Geraldine came back positive.
‘In those few days before we got the results I did kind of think we had it, but then I wasn’t sure. Some of the symptoms weren’t typical.’
News of the positive result was ‘a frightening moment’ he admitted.
‘My fear of this had been the breathing. I do have asthma, although it is mild. But I was worried about the breathlessness.’
He said they both had quite extreme back pain, and no appetite or sense of smell.
‘But the tiredness was the worst part it, and that is still there three weeks later,’ said Pat.
He praised his colleagues, and management, at the ambulance service for their ‘unwavering support’ during what was a very difficult time.
‘ They checked in with us every single day, even just a phone call for a few minutes, and offered to do shopping and get us anything we needed.’
‘I can’t thank them enough, that support meant the world to us during all of this.’
He added that he was ‘almost brought to tears’ by the sight of his colleagues lining the street outside his home last week, all clapping and offering words of support.
‘It was extremely emotional, I must admit. We had been in isolation for a couple of weeks, so to come out to our front door and see the faces of my friends and colleagues was very heartwarming indeed.’
His own battle with the virus has, he adds ‘really shown us how important social distancing is.’
‘It is a very nasty disease, and I would just say to people to stay home and stay safe, as there is a danger it could start up again.’
‘It is a very nasty disease, I would say to people stay home and stay safe’