St Richard’s Hospital’s longest-staying coronavirus patient is ‘ecstatic’ to be home

Mother-of-three Donna Morgan was waved out of the building on her 53rd birthday, after three months at the hospital – much of which was spent in intensive care.

Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and healthcare workers lined the corridors to clap and cheer.

Donna’s husband Toby said: “We went on this merry-go-round around the hospital, it was amazing.

“So many people had come in on their day off to say goodbye. They were determined to make her birthday a very special one.”

Of the two members of staff who pushed Donna in a wheelchair, one was the very first nurse to look after her when she was rushed to hospital on March 18, before being put into an induced coma.

The other was a senior intensive care nurse who spent weeks caring for her.

As Donna left the hospital, a big crowd of friends and family waving banners were waiting to greet her.

“There was all of Donna’s chums, half the locals from the pub out there,” said Toby. “She was taken aback, but then took it all in her stride.”

Dr Maggie Davies said hospital staff were ‘thrilled’ to see her return home.

She said: “Covid-19 is a very serious virus that has sadly claimed the lives of many patients in our hospitals and our thoughts are with all their families at this time.

“The disease very nearly proved fatal for Donna too, who was critically unwell and unconscious in our intensive care unit at St Richard’s for weeks.

“So to see Donna walk out of the hospital to rapturous applause from our staff as well as her family, friends and supporters, was truly uplifting for us all.

“After a record three months in our hospital, we are all thrilled to see our longest staying Covid-19 patient return home to her family – and on her birthday of all days!”

She thanked all the ‘amazing staff’ involved in Donna’s care, who she said have been going ‘above and beyond for many months now’.

“I am proud to work with such wonderful colleagues,” she said.

“We couldn’t have achieved this without the amazing support and love we have received from our community and of course wonderful campaigns such as Come on Donna, championed by her husband Toby and family.

“We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for us and we wish to thank everyone for their pictures, gifts, donations and fundraising – it has all contributed to amazing moments like Donna walking out of hospital.”

Donna celebrated the rest of her birthday by seeing a few close family and friends for a slice of birthday cake.

Toby said: “She was craving a Chinese, so that was her birthday supper – the biggest Chinese takeaway you’ve ever seen.”

Toby said Donna was ‘ecstatic to be home’, adding that her beloved dogs Gin and Tonic have barely left her side.

The pair are currently in temporary accommodation after letting go of the Victoria Inn in West Marden, which they have run together for nine years.

Toby said the living space was just not practical for Donna, who still has a long road to recovery ahead.

Toby, who has raised more than £110,000 for St Richard’s hospital over the last few months, is determined to keep fundraising and already has several charity auctions and raffles lined up.

The money raised will go towards developing a holistic service for staff, patients and families affected by Covid-19 at St Richard’s Hospital – find out more at www.comeondonna.com

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