Longest-staying coronavirus patient and mum-of-three finally comes back home from hospital
IT WAS the best present ever for the longest-staying coronavirus patient who was discharged after 92 days on her birthday.
Mother-of-three Donna Morgan was waved out of St Richard’s Hospital, in Chichester, on her 53rd birthday, after three months at the hospital – much of which was spent in an induced coma in intensive care.
Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and healthcare workers lined the corridors to clap and cheer the former Rowlands Castle landlady as she left.
Donna’s husband Toby said: ‘We went on this merry-go-round around the hospital, it was amazing. So many people had come in on their day off to say goodbye. They were determined to make her birthday a very special one.’
Dr Maggie Davies chief nurse at Western Sussex Hospitals said it was ‘truly uplifting’ to see Donna head home.She said: ‘Covid-19 is a very serious virus that has sadly claimed the lives of many patients in our hospitals and our thoughts are with all their families at this time.
‘The disease very nearly proved fatal for Donna too, who was critically unwell and unconscious in our intensive care unit at St Richard’s for weeks. So to see Donna walk out of the hospital to rapturous applause from our staff as well as her family, friends and supporters, was truly uplifting for us all.
‘After a record three months in our hospital, we are all thrilled to see our longest staying Covid-19 patient return home to her family – and on her birthday of all days.’
As Donna left the hospital, a big crowd of friends and family waving banners were waiting to greet her.
‘There was all of Donna’s chums, half the locals from the pub out there,’ said Toby. ‘She was taken aback, but then took it all in her stride.’
The pair are currently in temporary accommodation after recently letting go of the Victoria Inn near Rowlands Castle, which they have run together for nine years.
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