57-year-old suffered two brain bleeds before dying with coronavirus
A 57-YEAR-OLD dad and grandad who tested positive for Covid-19 has died after suffering from two brain bleeds.
Tributes have been paid to “cheeky” upholsterer and dedicated Chelsea supporter Stuart Greaves.
Stuart, a dad-of-one and grandfather-of-two, had no symptoms of coronavirus when he suffered two severe bleeds to the brain at his home in Rassau, near Ebbw Vale.
He was taken to intensive care where he tested positive but sadly his condition continued to deteriorate.
Due to the virus, his family were unable to visit him to say goodbye before Stuart died at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny on March 29.
Stuart’s daughter, Marie Saunders, said: “It was very sudden. He was only in Benidorm for the rugby the week prior.
“He started shaking and had two severe bleeds to the brain. I was at work and my husband called me.
“I spoke to the consultant when they took him to intensive care and they said there’s a possibility the virus can cause neurological problems first and then show symptoms after which my dad did.
“As the week progressed they said they had come across cases where it had caused those neurological problems.”
Marie said an attempt was made to take her father to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff to get specialist help.
But the mother-of-two thanked staff at Nevill Hall Hospital for their care and support during such a difficult time.
She said: “They tried to put him on a ventilator and transport him but he had a mini heart attack.
“He tested positive for Covid-19 which eventually shut down his organs just over a week later.
“The staff at intensive care went to Brynmawr and brought a mobile phone to do WhatsApp video calls so we could see him. They did their best in such a bad situation.
“They phoned us on the Sunday morning and our goodbyes were over WhatsApp video.
“We couldn’t see him, not even at the funeral home. That’s the worst bit for families suffering, we don’t have that closure even though there is a funeral.
“You feel like they are alone for all that time.
“I take my hat off to the hospital staff, they’re such genuine people. They are working extremely hard to save lives but sometimes it’s just impossible as they don’t know what they are dealing with.”
To Marie and her mother Helen, Stuart will be remembered as a man who loved to socialise but also as someone “devoted” to his two grandchildren, Chloe and Tyler.
As well as a Chelsea supporter, he also loved rugby, and would always be seen with a “cheeky smile” on his face.
Since his death, his family have received letters from both Chelsea FC and the WRU offering their condolences.
But perhaps the most touching gesture came from the community of Rassau who lined the streets to pay their respects on the day of Stuart’s funeral on Thursday.
Marie said: “It was all overwhelming. There must have been hundreds of people there.
“Dad was a massive Chelsea supporter and so many people wore Chelsea tops and clapped for him.
“I knew a few of his friends were doing it but I expected about 10 people at most. It was lovely to see them, it was so comforting.
“He had a lot of friends and everyone knew him so we will have a big memorial as he would have wanted us to celebrate his life.”
“He was just full of life – people called him Peter Pan because he never seemed to grow up.”