I haven’t hugged my family since I came out of intensive care
Just a few months ago, Ian Coventry would have described himself as fit, healthy and active. But after being suddenly struck down with a heart attack, the 72-year-old spent more than five weeks in hospital
– just as the true threat of coronavirus was emerging. Unable to receive visits since he underwent a life-saving operation, Ian says being unable to hug his loved ones – including daughters Laura, 42, and Julie, 38, and granddaughters Rebecca, 11, and Sophie, nine – has been one of the most difficult challenges.
He explained: “It was the start of March. I had gone up to my local Tesco for a wee walk with my daughter’s dog. The last thing I remember was being in the shop, and then a week later I woke up in Hairmyres Hospital.
“I didn’t have any chest or arm pains – one minute I was there and the next I wasn’t. “For the next five days I was in intensive care, covered in tubes, and seemingly the doctors had to revive me 10 times. So, for all intents and purposes, I was dead 10 times during that period. “When I woke and they explained what happened to me, I couldn’t believe it. Then of, course, the coronavirus crisis just started to kick in after I came out of intensive care.
“For the next four weeks I had to stay in hospital awaiting an operation to implant an ICD in my chest. I didn’t have any visitors, so it was very difficult for my daughters, and for me – I just wanted to reassure them I was OK and getting better.
“I haven’t had a hug or a kiss or anything. When you’ve been through a trauma like that, the first thing you want to do is hug your family. But that just wasn’t to be – and still hasn’t.
“I am fastidious about keeping to the two-metre rule. My daughters drop messages at the door, or if it’s a nice day they’ll come round to the back garden, but they sit about 10 feet away from me. We have no physical contact.
“We’ve had my birthday and my granddaughter’s recently, but there have been no real celebrations or parties. So, it’s been tough all round. “We are all making plans for when this is all over – it’s just a case of looking forward. This isn’t going to last forever, so we’ve just got to try and make the best of it.”