Covid survivor saves up thousands for ‘heroes’
Taxi driver Peter Miller has saved up thousands of pounds more in tips to say an even bigger thank you to the heroes who saved him from Covid.
Last year The Oban Times reported how Peter had saved up his tips along with people’s donations to present to Oban Ambulance Staff as a thank you for their part in helping save his life. Now he has raised £2,000 more.
The latest money will be split between the physiotherapy unit and Ward B, the former Covid ward, at the Lorn and Islands Hospital. He also plans to give money to the cleaners at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he spent time in intensive care.
Peter said: ‘They are all heroes for saving my life. I’d like to give money to the cleaners in
Glasgow because it came back to me how one of them kept coming to check on me – even after days off or when they weren’t on duty on my ward. They knew we weren’t getting visitors. It meant a lot to me and to others I’m sure. Maybe they can have a party or something with it. They worked so hard.’
Although Peter believes he was probably pre-diabetic before getting Covid, the virus brought the condition on fully and he struggles with that.
‘I have to take insulin. The diabetes is a struggle. It sucks. The pains in my legs are not as regular or as bad as they were when I first came out of hospital after Covid but they do come back – especially on days when I’ve pushed myself to the limit,’ said Peter.
‘It’s a terrible tragedy that so many people lost their lives back then. There are a few of us from the first Covid strike who have been to hell and back but walked away from it. We were the lucky ones who managed to survive. I do suffer from some survivor’s guilt, wondering why I made it and others didn’t, but I try not to allow myself to dwell on that too much because it just eats away at you.’
Peter is being helped to keep up his fitness and recovery by being part of Oban’s Healthy Options programme – now called Thrive.
His family support has also been incredible, he says, with 17-year-old son Musashi also donating money to help round up the total that Peter has raised.