Coronavirus: Walsall father recovering after multiple-organ failure and sepsis fight
A man from the Black Country who suffered coronavirus as well as other life-threatening conditions is now on the road to recovery.
Ian Hawkins, from Walsall, was admitted to Walsall Manor Hospital on March 29 after developing symptoms of the virus – leading to him to be placed on a full ventilator.
In the following weeks, the father-of-two also suffered with pneumonia, sepsis, multiple-organ failure and a secondary bacterial infection.
But now he is continuing his recovery and rehabilitation in the hospital and is hopeful he will be able to return home shortly.
The family of the 57-year-old, who has since tested negative for Covid-19, have now launched a £10,000 as a way of saying thank you to frontline workers.
Oliver Hawkins, whose father had no underlying health conditions, said: "The remarkable ICU (intensive care unit) team at Walsall Manor Hospital managed to save dad’s life and he is now undergoing rehabilitation by learning to eat, drink and walk by himself.
"The emotional and physical trauma he has – and will continue to – experience, was only eased by his family’s ability to contact him via phone and see each other through a window.
"After weeks of turmoil and separation this brief interaction with family offered a short reprieve from the horrors of Covid-19 for both dad and his loved ones.
"In order to demonstrate our gratitude to the NHS staff and to ease the suffering for future families who may be separated by Covid-19, we have decided to set up a fundraising page to help raise money for Walsall Manor ICU.
"The money raised by this page will be used to buy much-needed rehabilitation equipment for patients and to create a recreational outside area for visitation during this pandemic, which will also act as a therapeutic outdoor space for patients recovering in ICU beyond the pandemic.
"This is a cause which will impact the lives of many families who are experiencing the hardship of having a loved one in ICU and to improve the mental and physical rehabilitation of the patients."
Oliver, from Burntwood, set up the Just Giving page which has since attracted almost £5,000.
Georgie Westley, fundraising manager at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "After spending an afternoon with Helen it was plain to see how much she felt she owed ICU for the care of Ian and how emotional but also full of praise she was when talking about the care he had received.
"This fundraising is fantastic and I know it means a lot not just to Helen and her family but also to ICU."
To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/iansstory
