Covid survivor Graeme ties the knot with Susan
Loughborough man on ventilator for 20 days
THEY did it! Miraculous Covid 19 survivor Graeme Newton and his fiancé Susan happily tied the knot at Loughborough Register Office bringing a ray of sunshine to a tumultuous 2020.
The couple’s big day was firmly on the back burner when 50-yearold Graeme fought for his life in Glenfield Hospital earlier this year. The Echo reported in a front page article in May how the Loughborough man was given a one per cent chance of survival during 20 days on a ventilator before defying the odds to begin his long road to recovery.
Graeme has had to learn how to walk again and there have been further obstacles before the couple got married.
The reception was cancelled because the venue didn’t reopen after the lockdown, then Graeme and Susan had to wait anxiously for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to give the green light for weddings and overcome a death in the family a month ago.
But, speaking from their honeymoon in Skegness, they were both able to reflect on a lovely day.
“I still can’t believe we are married – I’m having to take it all in,” said Susan, who never gave up hope even in the darkest of hours.
“Graeme’s illness suddenly seems a long time ago. This story could have been so different, but Graeme came out of it and was one of the lucky ones.”
Graeme’s 19-year-old son Ellis was best man during a socially distanced ceremony attended by the maximum of 15 guests. Then the happy couple celebrated with a party, complete with a marquee, at their Loughborough home.
“It was great,” said Graeme, who now says he is about 80 per cent recovered.
“Originally, we had 42 guests but most of them, including my brother Neil and his wife Gail, came and waited outside during the ceremony. The registrar had to be in a different room from us.
“Our wedding has now cemented things. For many people 2020 is a write off but this has made things special for us.”
The couple are enjoying a relaxing caravan holiday by the seaside and plan to hold a big party to celebrate their anniversary next year.
But first Graeme expects to take his next big step on Monday by returning to work.
He is a customer services assistant at Countrywide Surveyors, who he says have been ‘absolutely brilliant’ with him during his absence.
Their daughter Samantha was also with them on their big day.
Their story touched the hearts of Echo readers and they also shared a tale of faith and inspiration with good friend Debbie Dawkins during a live interview on Radio Leicester.