Milton Keynes Hospital shares success story of young dad who recovered from near-death battle with Covid-19

Nick Clark is full of praise for the hospital, where the nurses lined the corridor and applauded him as he was wheeled out of the ward to go home.

But he has urged people never to think they are immune and to take government restrictions seriously to avoid catching the killer bug.

He spent two weeks in hospital, and his condition was declared critical when he first arrived and tested positive for coronavirus.

Incredibly he went from being on a ventilator in Intensive Care to leaving the hospital for home in just 14 days. And he's convinced his speedy recovery was down to the love and compassion he was shown from staff and his alike.

A hospital spokesman said: "His story is one of hope, following a worrying time for him and his family."

Nick’s wife Sarah and his daughter Matilda were one of the first families to use the newly set up ‘Letters to Loved Ones’ service to send a message and photos to him whilst he was in hospital.

Sarah said that when Nick received this from his family, it helped to lift his spirits and proved a turning point in his recovery.

The letter read: “Hello Daddy. Me and mummy are missing you so much, mummy says the lovely doctors and nurses are giving you lots of medicine to make you better, I have saved my Ariel Lego for us to do together with your space one when you are all better and home. We are so proud of you Nick and can’t wait to have you home with us for our pizza parties, we love you beyond measure and always will. Your girls Sarah and Matilda xxxx”

The hospital spokesman said: "Overnight, Nick’s condition changed dramatically. He was now able to feed and drink by himself and as each day passed he became stronger. He was also able to get out of bed and sit in the bedside chair without help, which Nick was really pleased about as it helped him to slowly regain some independence."

A few days later, Nick’s catheter was removed and he was no longer having to rely on oxygen. After just five days on the ward, he was able to return home to his wife and daughter to fully recuperate from the virus and start the long road to recovery, with support from the hospital's physiotherapy and mental health teams.

Nick himself said: "It’s easy to think it won’t happen to you but Covid does not discriminate. I cannot emphasise enough for people to take the government guidelines seriously. MKUH were simply AMAZING – from arrival to the hospital right through to this day with ongoing support from the Physiotherapists and Mental Health team. I’m forever grateful."

Staff Nurse Vykky Searle-Prestidge looked after Nick whilst he was an inpatient on Ward 21 and says it was amazing to see how quickly Nick had recovered from the virus.

“Nick was very unwell when he came onto the ward and after just five days of being on the ward he was able to go home. It is so nice to be able to send people back to their families," she said.

This week Sarah sent the hospital some photos of Nick and Matilda being reunited and enjoying some time in the sunshine in the garden of their MK home.

She said: “We are so happy to have Nick home. The nine days he was on a ventilator were incredibly tough and I thank MKUH from the bottom of my heart for what they have done and continue to do. We are forever grateful”.

Nick’s daughter Matilda added: “It made me sad when Daddy was in hospital. The nurses and doctors gave him lots of medicine to make him better. He was so brave! Thank you.”