Dad part of Covid 19 drug clinical trial
Intensive care for close to two weeks
A PATIENT given coronavirus drug dexamethasone as part of a clinical trial feels lucky to be alive after spending almost two weeks in intensive care.
Loughborough Dad-of-three Alex Guerrero, 45, said: “I will never know whether it was the drug that saved my life, but I know that I had the drug from my notes. It’s very strange to think I could be one of the people who survived because of it.”
The 45-year-old was born in London to Mexican parents and now lives in Loughborough. It was his wife, Isela, who gave permission for him be part of the trial as medics battled to save his life.
“When she was asked, my condition was very bad and there had been some very dark days,” said Alex. “I’m very grateful she agreed, it could have saved my life.
Alex, an engineering consultant, was working from the home he shares with Isela and their three children, aged 10, seven and five, before lockdown started.
He and Isela were taking it in turns to shop and the couple, who have been married for 19 years, remain baffled as to how he picked up the virus in April.
“I had a bit of a cold and was being a bit sick. That wasn’t considered a symptom then and I didn’t think there was any way I could have coronavirus as I had been working from home since before the lockdown,” Alex said.
“I spent the weekend feeling unwell but was feeling better on Monday and Tuesday.
“On the Wednesday I felt ill again and my wife encouraged me to call the doctor. That night I was admitted to the Glenfield.
“I remember being worried because my 10-year-old son has Down’s syndrome and my wife has asthma, I didn’t want any of them to catch it.
“The last thing I really remember is telling my wife my chest was painful and then it gets a bit sketchy.
“It all happened very quickly, I went in on Wednesday night and by Friday I was on a ventilator in intensive care.”
When he awoke after 12 days unconscious, Alex still relied heavily on the staff on the Glenfield intensive care ward where he was a patient.
He said: “The standard of care, it was brilliant.
“They fed me, cared for me, talked to me, supported me. I couldn’t see my family apart from FaceTime calls.
“I was a 45-year-old man in the body of a two-month-old, I needed help with everything. I joke now that it was a dangerous but quick way to lose 10kg.”
Six weeks ago, staff applauded as Alex was wheeled off the ward well enough to return home.
“I will never forget the squeals of joy from my children,” he said.
“Seeing them for the first time, my wife, it was amazing. I had missed them all so much.”