'My parents begged to swap places': Covid survivor remembers 'final call' before ICU battle
“It was harrowing to make those calls and hear your wife collapse and your parents beg to swap places with you.”
Those are the words of Covid-19 survivor Darren Buttrick, from Coven, who was told to phone his family in case he didn’t make it.
He was given a 50-50 chance of surviving the virus as he entered New Cross Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit on March 20 last year.
The O2 worker pleaded with medics to not let him die as he underwent vital treatment and was put into a coma on a ventilator by staff.
But he pulled through – and has spent the following few months donating convalescent plasma and stressing the importance of being cautious.
Darren said: “The nursing staff gave me a 50-50 chance of survival and I was told to prepare myself and my loved ones for what could be my last call.
“On the darkest day of my life, March 20 last year, Covid-19 took hold of my body so much, and in a way I did not have the fight to make it alone. It felt like I was being strangled and my life was drifting away from me.
“For sure without the help and support of the NHS, I have no doubt I may have not made it. I know I’m only of the lucky ones that survived and my heartfelt thanks goes out to those nurses, or as I say 'angels', who helped save my life in the Intensive Care Unit. Kate, Catherine, Sergio and Dawn – they all know how much I think of them and what they have done for me and many others too."
Darren received a message from one of his daughters, which said “have a nice sleep dad. See you back at home soon” as he went to receive the life-saving treatment – with a nurse by his side when he woke up.
He said: “When a nurse sits next to you as you wake from a coma after having the ventilator removed and she is holding my hand, stroking my arm and saying ‘Darren, you’re alive, you're back with us’ and she goes on to FaceTime my wife, Angela, from her personal phone to show her I’m alive, whilst the other nurse is stood behind my bed hiding as I later find out she’s crying with emotion – those acts of kindness break my heart but shows the NHS at it’s best.”
The 49-year-old has now donated convalescent plasma 24 times – becoming the most prolific donor in the UK.
He said giving back through the donations has given him a "sense of recovery" from the virus and he has pledged to continue donating for as long as possible.
He added: "I’d encourage anyone who can donate to consider doing it and join the many people that already do. They inspire me to carry on donating and helping others.
"I’ve had my first jab and would encourage everyone to seriously think about taking it when offered to protect yourself and others. So it’s onwards and upwards to a better 2021 and beyond.
"Stay safe and well, and as we hopefully move out of the final stage of lockdown and restrictions on June 21, I hope I will be able to enjoy and celebrate my 50th birthday in style two days later."
