‘Covid is very real’
WOMAN WHOSE HUSBAND WAS LUCKY TO SURVIVE VIRUS URGES PEOPLE TO TAKE LOCKDOWN RULES SERIOUSLY
THE wife of a man who was in a coma for more than two months because of coronavirus has spoken of the life-changing consequences since his diagnosis - as she urged people to stick to the new lockdown rules.
Wanda Freeman’s husband Paul, 63, spent 98 days in hospital.
“People think Covid-19 is a bad flu - it’s not. Before Paul became ill I didn’t know anyone who had contracted it and I would have been one of those people who thought it would never affect us,” said Mrs Freeman.
The second national lockdown came into effect yesterday, and she added: “Covid-19 is very real and can have serious consequences.
“It’s not worth risking the heartache we’ve experienced to meet up with family or friends. I’d urge people to take it seriously and stick to the rules.”
Mr Freeman’s recovery is ongoing as he deals with the long-lasting effects of the virus.
His wife said: “Covid has ravaged Paul’s body. His kidneys and lungs are damaged, his upper body is so weak and doing simple tasks leaves him exhausted.
“He’s such a clever bloke but now he suffers from brain fog and can’t remember people’s names or even what he had to eat an hour ago.”
Back in March, Mr Freeman, who has been a bricklayer at Mansfield District Council for 43 years, had been feeling unwell for about a week but didn’t have any obvious symptoms of coronavirus.
On March 23, the couple, who have been together for 23 years and married for 18, were watching TV when Mr Freeman developed a fever with a temperature of 40 degrees and had difficulty breathing.
An ambulance was called to their Mansfield home and Mr Freeman was taken to King’s Mill Hospital where he later tested positive for Covid-19.
Mrs Freeman had to self-isolate for two weeks and relied on telephone updates from the hospital.
“The hardest part was that I was on my own. Before then Paul and I had only been apart when we were at work. I phoned the children four times a day and not being able to see each other when we were all so distraught was horrendous.”
After 13 days, she received a call to say her husband’s kidneys were damaged and he was being transferred to Lincoln County Hospital for specialist treatment.
“He deteriorated again and we
thought he wasn’t going to survive. I wasn’t sleeping and was preparing myself for the worst – it was terrifying.
“Every time they attempted to wake him up his blood pressure rose and, on each occasion, they said he wasn’t ready yet and put him back into a coma.”
Unable to visit, hospital staff kept Mrs Freeman updated by phone.
It was two-and-a-half months before she saw her husband via Facetime and it was on June 27 – his birthday – when she was able to visit him for the first time.
“He didn’t know me, which was heartbreaking. He had been well built but now he looked so old and fragile,” she said.
The first glimmer of hope came when Mr Freeman spoke his first words to his wife, asking if she’d paid the rent.
“I knew for the first time that he was OK and I couldn’t wait to tell everyone,” she said.
His recovery took time and some days were better than others.
“He was like a baby, having to learn to walk and talk again. Even holding a pen was a big struggle.”
Mr Freeman was discharged at the start of July.
“The staff lined up to clap as he left the ward and when we got home everyone on the street was out clapping, which was lovely,” said his wife.
Her husband has no recollection of being ill. In further heartache, Mrs Freeman’s son, Daniel, 35, died in August.
“Paul’s very lucky to be alive. It was definitely a sign from above – somebody was looking down on him. I think Paul’s illness and the first lockdown was God’s way of making sure I got to spend more time with Daniel,” added Mrs Freeman.
Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams said: “I’d like to thank Paul and Wanda for sharing their experiences to help people understand the reality of Covid-19 and the importance of following the rules to slow the spread.”