ROD’S GIFT TO STUDENT NURSE WHO BEAT VIRUS
MUM WHO SPENT WEEKS IN COMA SURPRISED BY SINGING STAR:
ASTUDENT nurse who nearly died after contracting coronavirus has received an incredible gift from Sir Rod Stewart. Natasha Jenkins spent weeks in a coma and 22 days on a ventilator after falling sick just before Mother’s Day.
The second-year trainee nurse was placed on a ventilator at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, the hospital where she is training.
The 35-year-old from Barry developed pneumonia and tested positive for coronavirus.
After beating the virus, a video of her heartwarming reunion with her three children was shared online – and was spotted by Sir Rod who then got in touch.
The singer sent Natasha £5,000 so she could recover at home without having to worry about money coming in. He also wrote a note that said: “Hi Natasha, a small gift to help you through the rough times.”
The mum-of-three now needs the support of a frame to walk, has crippling fatigue and needs 12 months of rehabilitation.
She said she felt like she had “gone back to being a child again”.
“I’m doing really good now. When I saw what Rod Stewart had sent me I was absolutely gobsmacked.
“It was a really, really lovely, kind thing for him to do,” she said.
Natasha is considering spending the money on a treat for her three children – Codie, 16, Elise, 12, and Oakley, six.
“They’ve been through so much,” she added.
Natasha appeared on Good Morning Britain on Friday, and said: “My house phone rang and it was his PR company.
“They said Rod would like to send me something, so they asked for my address. I was just expecting a card.
“So he sent me quite a substantial bit of money to help me through the times I’m going through.
“That was amazing, obviously I can’t work at the moment.
“I’ve had to take time off from university, so it’s a massive help. I’m a single parent with three children.
“It’s not put the pressure on me now to return to university or work, and it’s been a massive help.”
Writing on Facebook last month, the 35-year-old spoke about how lucky and fortunate she was.
“Everyone has been so amazing and I’m so lucky to have the people around me that I do.
“I cannot stress enough the severity of this disease though guys. It’s no joking matter. Stay home it’s not worth the risk unless you absolutely have to.
“I’m just gonna give you a little insight to what I’ve been going through the last five weeks and the scariness of the situation.
“Unless you’ve experienced it happening to you or your family, I don’t think people will understand the severity but please please be careful guys.
“I was lucky and fortunate enough by some miracle to make it out alive. And for that I’ll be forever grateful.”