Man recovering from coronavirus in Aylesbury says NHS are 'shining light of humanity'

A 64-year-old man and his partner have written to The Bucks Herald to express their gratitude for the NHS after the man ended up in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Stoke Mandeville Hospital with coronavirus.
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Neil Mead, a father of three and a grandfather many times over, was admitted to Stoke Mandeville a little over a month ago, on 25 March, and by Good Friday was in ICU.

He says he received a variety of treatments, including antibiotics, anti-Malaria drugs and steroids, and whether through these or just his own immune system he is now thankfully on the mend, though still in hospital.

Neil told us: “I have recovered mostly but with damaged lungs and a rapid heartbeat.

Neil Mead, 64, is in Stoke Mandeville Hospital recovering from covid-19Neil Mead, 64, is in Stoke Mandeville Hospital recovering from covid-19
Neil Mead, 64, is in Stoke Mandeville Hospital recovering from covid-19

“I’m truly thankful and after five weeks confined I'm looking forward to release from hospital in the near future.

“My love and thanks to NHS staff will live with me always. They are our shining light of humanity and the sacrifices some of them have made are saintly. God bless them all.”

Catherine Britton, Neil's partner with whom he had been self-isolating in Ivinghoe before being taken to hospital, described Neil as “the life and soul of the party.”

Catherine continued: “The reason I’m writing to you is to express our gratitude for the wonderful treatment and care he has received at Stoke Mandeville - they always go the extra mile.

Neil with his guitar before he caught coronavirusNeil with his guitar before he caught coronavirus
Neil with his guitar before he caught coronavirus

“One young nurse visited him on her day off to bring him some Muller Rice as it was the only thing he fancied to eat!

“The family liaison team rang me every day to update me and arranged for an iPad so I could FaceTime him!

“Any time I needed to speak to a doctor or nurse they were so patient and compassionate with me when frankly I was a bit of an emotional wreck!”

Neil, who lives in Toddington and who is a coppersmith by trade, enjoys photography and playing his guitar in his spare time.

He said that he feels like the NHS staff at Stoke Mandeville have given him his life back and vowed to make the most of it: “I will cherish every moment as a new life reborn. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

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