Inverness care worker reunited with husband after NHS ‘angels’ save her life
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A CARE home worker has described the joy of being back with her family again after winning a life-or-death battle against coronavirus.
Sarah MacDougall (42) was discharged from Raigmore Hospital after two weeks in a coma on a life-support machine.
There were emotional scenes as she was led from the hospital by some of the staff who had been looking after her, to be reunited with husband Harry.
Speaking from her home in the city’s Blarmore Avenue, she said: “I can’t believe I’m back home. It is wonderful. There have been real tears of happiness.”
She added: “My house and garden are spotless as that is what kept my husband Harry busy – and his mind occupied – while I was in hospital.”
An assistant cook at Ach-An-Eas Care Home, in Island Bank Road, she joked: “I am going to teach him how to cook next!”
Describing her ordeal, she said: “I had been ill, and I was not really getting over it so my mum said I should go back to the doctor.
“I was told that I may have coronavirus and needed to go to hospital.
“The doctor offered to phone me an ambulance, but Harry took me. I was really upset in the car, there were so many tears.
“When I got to Raigmore, I was swabbed. The last thing I can remember is that I was told I would need to be put into a coma.”
From April 1 to 13 she was looked after on the intensive care ward at Raigmore, placed on a ventilator and a life-support machine.
The former Drakies Primary and Millburn Academy pupil believes her faith, and the love of friends and family, played a part in her survival.
While she was very ill, she was included in daily prayers at Inverness Cathedral, where she has been a lifelong worshipper.
Mrs MacDougall, who celebrated her eighth wedding anniversary on Monday while still apart from her husband, said she had been amazed at the number of people who have been in touch with good wishes.
She said it had been a huge source of comfort, and described the staff at Raigmore as “angels”, who had given her the “best care imaginable”.
Mrs MacDougall now faces a longer journey towards full recovery.
She has suffered nerve damage caused by a lack of oxygen to her foot – a complication which can arise from being placed on a ventilator.
“It has been a long journey, and I have nerve damage to my foot, so it will go on for some time yet,” she said. “But I have so much to be thankful for, and I want other people to hear my happy story.
“We can survive this.”
See more reunion photos in today's Inverness Courier.
