Wife of COVID-19 patient nicknamed ‘Teflon man’ by nurses after surviving weeks in intensive care says it was ‘horrendous’ not being by his bedside after being told he might die
- Brian Harvey was put into an induced coma with suspected pneumonia in March
- Staff at Bristol Royal Infirmary confirmed the 69-year-old actually had Covid-19
- Family told Brian would not survive but after six weeks he woke with no memory
- Wife Mary daughter Faye Stapleton say it was ‘horrendous’ not being with him
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
The wife of a coronavirus patient nicknamed the ‘Teflon man’ by nurses after surviving weeks in intensive care says it was ‘horrendous’ she was unable to see him after being told he might die.
Grandfather-of-six Brian Harvey, 69, was admitted to Bristol Royal Infirmary in late March with what was thought to be pneumonia, but tests soon revealed he had caught Covid-19.
He was put into an induced coma before the diagnosis and wife Mary and daughter Faye Stapleton, 32, feared they would not be able to properly say goodbye to Brian after doctors phoned them predicting he wouldn’t make it through.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain via video link from his hospital bed, he told how he was unable to have the support of his family after waking up from a five-week coma, but praised the ‘amazing’ NHS staff who looked after him.
Grandfather-of-six Brian Harvey (pictured), 69, was admitted to Bristol Royal Infirmary in late March with what was thought to be pneumonia, but tests soon revealed he had caught Covid-19
Appearing on Good Morning Britain wife Mary and daughter Faye Stapleton (pictured), 32, told how they feared they would not be able to properly say goodbye
Mary, who spoke from her home, said: ‘Initially the ambulance crew just thought he had pneumonia and then the next day we had a call to say they were going to take him to the ICU and he tested positive. It was horrendous not being with him, horrible.
She added: ‘A couple of times we had some horrific calls, telling us he wouldn’t make it through the night.
Faye went on: ‘We had a call to say he wouldn’t make it, his kidney’s had completely failed.
‘It was a horrendous phone call, when mum just wanted to be at dad’s bedside it was absolutely horrific.’
Brian Harvey at Bristol Royal Infirmary with nurses who nicknamed him the Teflon Man after he recovered from Covid-19 and woke up from a six-week coma with no memory of the pandemic
They told host Ben Shepard It was horrendous not being able to see Brian after being told he may not survive
Brian had to be told about the pandemic after waking from a six-week coma, and told that while it was ‘quite an ordeal’ the NHS staff who saved his life were ‘amazing’.
He said: ‘It was quite an ordeal and obviously, when you’re in that position it would be nice to have family there just to give some sort of support.
‘But because of this virus you can’t to that, but the team and the staff on the recovery ward were amazing.’
Faye told that her eight-year-old daughter had made a wish on her ninth birthday that her granddad would recover, and the next day they were told that his condition was no longer critical.
Brian had to be told about the pandemic after waking from a six-week coma, and told that while it was ‘quite an ordeal’ the NHS staff who saved his life were ‘amazing’
She told: ‘ It was just amazing. We had that call on the 12th of April and all she wanted was to make a wish on her ninth birthday for her granddad to come home.
‘Then on the 13th of April, we were told he was improving and it was just a miracle.’
The grandfather may have to stay in hospital for another five weeks, however, as he has picked up another infection on his heart.