Family’s agony after man loses battle with virus
THE family of a much-loved man who lost his fight with coronavirus have shared their heartache to reinforce the vital message - stay at home to save lives.
Gary Edwards, from Macclesfield, died on Tuesday, April 14, despite the best efforts of hospital medics.
He had spent a week fighting for his life after being put into an induced coma on April 8.
Prior to being put into a coma he had called his wife Joy to say goodbye as he was unsure when - or if - they would speak again.
The couple had been due to celebrate their 17th anniversary this week and Joy has paid tribute to her ‘soulmate’.
She herself is in a Covid-19 ‘at risk’ category so must grieve in isolation but has still bravely spoken out via social media to get her message across.
Joy said: “It is with a very heavy heart that I have to say that Gary the love of my life, lost his battle with Covid-19.
”All his family are devastated that it has taken away our loving husband, dad, grandad, great grandad, brother, uncle, cousin and friend to so many.
” Thanks to Covid, my soulmate is gone. I am in utter disbelief. We have had our future cruelly taken away.
”My darling Gary, the last 19 years have been the happiest of my life. I really don’t know how
I’m going to live without you. I will love you forever.
”If any of you are thinking, ‘it’s a lovely day I’m going to ignore the rules and go and meet up with some friends’, try getting a phone call from your husband from hospital to say goodbye because he is going in an induced coma and on a ventilator and he’s not sure if he will see me again.
”Stay indoors. The rules are there for a reason, it doesn’t just happen to everyone else.”
Gary, who grew up in the Upton Priory area of Macclesfield and went to school in Broken Cross, first met Joy more than 40 years ago.
They then met again in 2001 and were married within two years.
Daughter Katie Ford contacted the Macclesfield Express asking to share her family’s story to show others what the realities of coronavirus can look like.
She said: “We are absolutely heartbroken, it has turned our family upside down.
“We can’t even be with our mum. She’s all on her own and in bits. It’s just a living nightmare. It’s not just my family.
”I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy yet people are still ignoring the stay at home rules and it frustrates me so much so I want to raise awareness of this.”