Martin’s sweet return home after six-week battle with Covid-19
IF Tralee man Martin O’Shea was 10-years older, chances are he would have died because of COVID-19.
That’s the grim post- COVID prognosis Martin received on his recovery this week when he returned home after one of the toughest battles of his life – a battle for survival that lasted over six weeks.
“It just felt like I was getting the flu or a heavy head cold. I don’t remember much about what happened but it’s a terrible experience that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I’m just glad to finally be on the other side of it,” Martin told The Kerryman.
Martin was admitted to hospital on March 23 and the next day was shifted to ICU and put on a ventilator. He spent two weeks at University Hospital Kerry (UHK) before being shifted to Cork having suffered complications. Martin’s wife Pauline started to worry.
“I got a call to say they had to ventilate him. A few days later they called to say he took a bad turn, we went to say our goodbyes. Martin was resuscitated six times and was anointed,” Pauline explains.
Martin was moved to Cork (CUH) because of kidney failure. Another week of treatment followed before they gradually eased him off dialysis and the ventilator.
To make matters worse, Martin’s father, Patrick, passed away while he was in hospital.
“It’s just been a horrendous few weeks,” Pauline said.
“Martin is steeped to have come through it. I had the virus as well but it was just a head cold to me. The fact he is asthmatic made him vulnerable.
“Martin is still very shook from it and he has a long road to go yet. A nurse said had he been ten years older he wouldn’t have survived.”
Pauline concludes: “I want to thank the ICU staff in Annagh and Skellig Ward at UHK for their help and to the staff at Cork University Hospital. Martin wouldn’t be here today only for them.”