A heartbroken dad ‘didn’t want to get out of bed on Christmas day’ while his partner was in a Covid-19 induced coma.
Alan Kelly, 35, and Jemma Parkinson, 36, live with their four-year-old daughter Sienna in Brinnington.
Stay at home mum Jemma started to feel unwell towards the end of November, displaying symptoms of Covid-19.
She did a PCR test, which came back positive, and started to isolate, however, the situation would get much worse.
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“After the positive test it just started getting worse and worse,” HGV driver Alan told the Manchester Evening News.
“I got a text from Jemma on the 8th saying she needed help and that I needed to come home from work.
“When I got back she was crouched over the bed and was really struggling to breathe so I rang 999 straight away, it was really scary.”
Jemma was rushed to Stepping Hill hospital.
Only hours later Alan received a phone call saying she was not improving and that Jemma needed to be put on a ventilator.
In the days after this she caught ventilator associated pneumonia, and her condition continued to worsen.
"I wasn't allowed into the hospital to visit at any time I wanted to see her because of the restrictions," Alan said.
"They did let me in only twice as there were points where they didn't know if Jemma was going to make it, it was the hardest thing that I've ever had to do.
"Being home without her was so tough, I broke down three or four times a day crying. Sienna would ask 'daddy are you okay?' which was just so sad.
"I prayed every day that Jemma would get better.
"I didn't want to get out of bed on Christmas morning, it was the last thing I wanted to do, but I thought I had to be strong for Sienna and Jemma.
"We're so lucky that she pulled through."
Jemma was then put into a coma for three weeks and three days - January 1 2021 - missing both Christmas and New Years Eve with Alan and Sienna.
She was taken home to Exeter Road, Brinnington, on January 8, but has a long road of recovery ahead.
"She's gone really weak and has lost a lot of feeling on her left hand side," Alan said.
"Leaving bed is hard enough and she has lost all confidence with walking, it's so upsetting to see.
"When we picked her up from hospital she was very quiet which was very strange for our daughter which was very sad for me."
Jemma turned 36 last Wednesday (January 12), but struggled to get out of bed to celebrate with Alan and Sienna.
"The doctors say she will get better over time but it could take a while."
Alan has had one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, while Jemma had zero, as "we never made it a priority," Jemma said, adding "we should have done".
Both are now urging those who have not had their jabs to get them as soon as they can so they do not endure the same ordeal that they have been through, and to raise awareness of the effects coronavirus can have.
"People should definitely go a get it (Covid jab)," Jemma said, "people need to be more aware of Covid in general I think, a lot of people still don't see how severe it can be.
"I'm just so thankful for all the nurses and doctors at the ICU in Stepping Hill, they saved my life," Jemma added.
Alan echoed this, saying: "All the doctors were brilliant, I would ring four or fives time a day to check on her and they'd always let me know.
"She is so lucky, the doctors were very doubtful a few times whether Jemma would make it, they really didn't know which was it was going to go. I couldn't be more thankful to them all."
While the family are happy to have gotten through this, they are not happy with how they have been treated by their housing provider, Stockport Homes, since coming back.
The family live in a third floor flat, which Jemma now feels 'trapped' in while still in the early stages of her recovery from her Covid-19 illness and treatment.
"We've been told by our GP that we need a different property as she can't use that many stairs to get in or out of the building, it could be years before she's fully fit again," Alan said.
"We came out of hospital thinking we would get some support but have been given absolutely none from Stockport Homes.
"It took two of us more than 30 minutes to get Jemma up the stairs coming back from hospital. I shouldn't even be helping as I've got a heart condition too.
"Every time we have an appointment now we've been told to ring an ambulance so they can help us get out of the house which seems like a massive waste of an ambulance that could be doing more important jobs.
"We've been told it could be at least eight months before any sort of replacement property is found so they said there was no point.
"What if there was an emergency and we needed to get Jemma out fast? It's not safe at all.
"It was even suggested we buy chairs to put at the top of each flight of stairs to have a rest each time which is a joke.
"All we want is some support after what we've been through."
Stockport Homes said they were working with Alan and Jemma to find a solution.
Director at Stockport Homes Group, Si Welch, said: "We are extremely sorry to hear that this tenant has been ill with Covid. As part of our obligations as a landlord, we are dedicated to making the property safe and ensuring the tenants are as comfortable as possible too.
"In relation to this particular property, we have taken several positive actions with the aim of trying to make the tenant feel at ease.
"We have referred the tenant to Adult Social Care and an Occupational Therapist has visited the home and made plans for adaptations in many rooms, which will allow the tenant to be mobile.
"Following our referral to the GM Fire and Rescue service, they have visited the property to ensure that it’s got everything it needs to be safe as well and making sure the tenants could leave the property in an emergency.
"Our Independent Living Officer visited the property yesterday to collect medical evidence in support of the re-housing application and we are working with the tenants on progressing this."
