Here, Steve Kelly tells the story of his Covid journey, in his own words

TWO people barged into my darkened room, I awoke and shouted “what’s going on?” , “You’re going to hospital mate” came the reply.

Rest was a blur; tests, oxygen mask, ambulance, words of encouragement. Onwards to hospital, as the paramedics had radioed ahead I was swiftly admitted, staff busied themselves prodding and piercing me, “just a little scratch” was to become very familiar.

Two weeks earlier I was a ‘normal’ person, Covid was something other people had. I was aware of the government and medical advice, two metre plus apart, hand washing, no close contact etc. However like many, after nine months I was complacent.

“Suddenly I felt unwell, feverish, headachy, slightly stiff, I’m the person who never gets flu or ill, a paracetamol, a hot whiskey and an early night would fix it. I was only in my mid-50s, fairly fit. Next day I was worse.

“I had a Covid test and awaited the expected negative result, 18 hours later I got a positive result. Wow, this Covid thing was in my life.

“The first few days went OK, I had an appetite, did a few Zoom quizzes, kept the aches at bay with Paracetamols. I said to someone “If this is Covid, bring it on. A few days later symptoms took a turn for the worse, feverish, appetite gone and most days in bed as I was so tired.

“I began to miss meals and weakened, my breathing worsened. I minimised my distress to my friends and medical staff. Friends weren’t fooled and eventually phoned 999 which resulted in the ambulance.

“I was now in Worcestershire Royal, last time I’d been in there for medical reasons was when my youngest was born 12 years earlier.

“The staff around me obviously thought something serious was going on, within hours I was in intensive care wearing a very uncomfortable oxygen mask, and connected to machines and tubes.

“I would have been a very scared man if it hadn’t been for the friendly staff.

“There is no miracle treatment for Covid as yet, all medicine can do is give you every possible positive drug to slow down the virus and buy time for your body to fight it off.

“I was told that I’d had the same drugs that Boris (Johnson) and Donald (Trump) had received, not sure that was a positive spin, but I was glad to grab onto anything that could help. I hated the oxygen mask, but once I looked at the patient next to me who was intubated and in a medical coma, I knew the mask was the only way to avoid that.

“Five long days followed. I hardly slept but slowly I felt stronger. A highlight were the three meals a day, you would be released from the mask for a short time to eat, it was nutritious, and it meant a chat with the server.

“No visitors of course, my brother set up a messaging group, and he would ring the ward for updates twice a day and post the results, so all had regular updates, he’s told me afterwards how friendly and informative the staff were, another gold star for the staff.

“Eventually the consultant felt confident enough to move me to a less intensive ward. A badge of improving health was a lowering of oxygen being given and a smaller mask. The frequency of assaults with needles was also dropping, I was recovering.

“The next two weeks were punctuated by events leading to allow my discharge, removal of medical devices like catheters and suchlike, using the toilet ‘properly’ for the first time, four or five steps unassisted. Each one a small victory as I wouldn’t be allowed home until I could demonstrate I could look after myself, and was not likely to return.

“D-day arrived, my friend picked me up and took me back to my flat. Once she was happy I was comfortable she left me alone.

“I had two weeks to prepare for Christmas, I got as fit as possible, ate properly. Initially I could only do one flight of stairs with two or three rests as I was so breathless. Four weeks later it’s no problem, and the only real after-effect is lowered stamina and a regime of blood thinning drugs for six months as I had clots on my lungs. A small price to pay.

“I’d learnt a lot in those weeks, Covid is dangerous, it can do you serious harm. I’d learnt that if the worst does happen there is a fantastic bunch of staff of Worcester who will virtually hold your hand and do their best to get you through.

“It wasn’t just the medical care, it was the smiling eyes, and the feeling that you really do matter.”