Seamus thanks NHS staff who saved his life
A MAN from Brighouse has paid tribute to the dedication of NHS staff after recovering from coronavirus, despite being given a one per cent chance of survival.
Seamus Scadden, 50, was in a coma for 34 days at Calderdale Royal Hospital after catching coronavirus.
Mr Scadden is now recovering at his mum’s house in Sowerby Bridge, and says he cannot thank the NHS staff enough for saving his life.
“I had multiple organ failure, pneumonia, six blood transfusions, kidney failure, a heart attack. I went through the mill and back again.
“If it hadn’t been for the NHS staff in Halifax and their expertise and dedication, I wouldn’t be here now to tell my story.
“At one point I actually died and they brought me back after a heart attack.
“In a lot of ways, I’m very lucky but I’ve got the NHS to thank.
“I’m very, very lucky to be alive. I’m one of the very lucky ones because there’s so many people that have died.
“It’s the advances in medicine and the dedication of the NHS staff that have pulled me through, and the way they’ve treated me.”
Seamus, who has type two diabetes, said he initially felt out of breath and generally run down, and thought he had a touch of pneumonia.
“I went into ICU and after a few days my kidneys failed, I had pneumonia, I had sepsis. I then had half-a-dozen blood transfusions while I was in the coma. My blood kept clotting so they had to do it again and again.
“I did actually pass (away). My mum got a phone call at three o’clock in the morning to say it was really bad, but mum asked the doctors to give me a bit more time and I managed to pull round.
“I was 39 days in ICU, then 10 days on the ward.
“I’m getting better and better by the day, and getting stronger, but they’ve told me it’ll be 12 to 18 months before I’m back to how I was.”
Mr Scadden is now being given after-support, and is in regular contact with his doctors.
“Once it’s all died down they’ve said they’re hoping to get me back into the hospital to see the staff again,” he said.
“I can’t thank the NHS enough.”
Once it’s all died down they’ve said they’re hoping to get me back to see the staff again
ONLINE: www.halifaxcourier. co.uk