NHS angels saved my life; Inverness woman recovers from coronavirus after two weeks in coma
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AN Inverness care home worker has fought a life or death battle with coronavirus – and won.
After two weeks in a coma and being placed on a life-support machine at Raigmore Hospital, Sarah MacDougall went home last night.
The 42-year-old, of Blarmore Avenue, thought an old condition had flared up when she suddenly came down with a fever and stomach cramps.
Mrs MacDougall, who is an assistant cook at Ach-An-Eas Care Home, in Island Bank Road, had been off work for a few weeks and on antibiotics.
She then developed a slight cough, which she tried to treat with cough syrup, before becoming breathless.
Speaking from her hospital bed, where she has been for three weeks, she said: “I was not really getting over it, and my mum said I should go back to the doctors. I made an appointment and went to Cairn Medical Practice. I was told that I may have coronavirus and needed to go to hospital.
“The doctor offered to phone me an ambulance, but my husband Harry took me. I was really upset in the car, there were so many tears.”
Mrs MacDougall had a fear of hospitals and needles – something she has now overcome.
“When I got to Raigmore, I was met round the back at the old children’s ward and I was swabbed,” she said. “The last thing I can remember is that I was told I would need to be put into a coma. I don’t remember anything after that.”
From April 1 to April 13 she was looked after on the intensive care ward. She was on a ventilator and a life-support machine for 13 days.
“The doctor said to me that the turning point was April 8 – the same day as my dad’s 80th birthday,” she said. “That day is special to me. I really think that somebody was looking down from heaven.”
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.
“I have felt all along that I was being cared for both by the wonderful staff at Raigmore, but also by my church and the Bishop Mark Strange and the Provost Sarah Murray,” she said. “Knowing that I was being held in prayer every day has been incredibly important to me.”
Mrs MacDougall, who celebrated her eight-year anniversary to husband Harry on Monday, said she had been amazed at all the people who had been in touch, and her family. It was helped by a Facebook post by her brother Pete, which attracted more than 500 comments.
She said this had been a huge source of comfort and described the staff at Raigmore as angels, who have given her the “best care imaginable”.
Her family, including her mum and dad, Win and Padric MacDonald, were kept up-to-date by staff on the ward.
Despite no longer having the virus, she has been in hospital for the last few days due to nerve damage caused by a lack of oxygen to her foot – a complication which can happen during the most intense period of the illness while 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 can’t wait to get back to my work at Ach-An-Eas, and to see all the residents and staff. I am sure they are missing me as much as I am missing them.
“I have missed having my family around me, and celebrating my wedding anniversary alone made me miss Harry all the more. But I have so much to be thankful for, and I want other people to hear my happy story – we can survive this.”
She also urged people to focus on the purpose of the lockdown.
“People need to be very careful,” she added. “No-one should be taking risks with this virus, it is deadly and people must take every precaution. I didn’t know I had it, I thought it was something else. People need to be socially isolated and not mix with others.”
