A heartbroken woman has nominated a department at Wishaw General for an award following the “outstanding” care they gave to her late husband.
Gillian Keeper nominated the hospital’s Adult Critical Care Unit for the charity 'Covid Aid’s' #CovidHeroes Award for the work staff did while her husband Justin was fighting for his life after he was admitted with coronavirus in March last year.
Despite a brave two week fight, dad-of-two Justin, 47, passed away leaving behind Gillian and their two daughters - Darcie, 17, and Morgan, 22.
Gillian told Lanarkshire Live : “We all caught COVID in March 2021, but Justin was the only one taken into hospital.
"After five days he was put into a COVID ward. He was put into the adult critical care ward.
“Unfortunately, because of the situation, we couldn’t get into see him, but from our point of view the team at the hospital told us to call anytime and there was days when we could speak to him or see him through Skype.
“Justin was there for six or seven days; they were trying everything they could to help him and were trying various medication.
“His kidneys had started to fail, but we still thought we would get him back out.
“We were then told he would be put into an induced coma and he would be put on a ventilator; he was very ill.
“This is where I really felt the hospital staff came into their own; the doctors and nurses seemed to working non-stop but were always on the end of the phone.
“They must have been doing it with dozens of other families like ours.”
While Justin - who had no pre-existing health problems - was in a coma, Gillian and her family were kept in constant contact.
But as his condition worsened, Justin’s family had to prepare for the worst.
“He was put onto his front to help his breathing and he couldn’t speak so the nurses held the phone up to him and I would speak to him just about the usual day-to-day things,” said Gillian.
“They also put on music for him to listen to. I even took in balloons for his birthday and he was delighted to see that.
“Unfortunately, while in the coma, his lungs became infected and his organs were failing.
“We had from an aggressive treatment programme and moved to end-of-life care.
“They allowed myself and my daughters in to be there with Justin as he slipped away.
“The compassion and thoughtfulness of those staff will never be forgotten by myself or my family. One nurse in particular I can remember, was just amazing.
“I personally don’t know how these people could do and they keep doing it. They were watching people die every day and still they kept going on.”
Justin and Gillian met through friends 25 years ago. The couple, from Bellshill, were due to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in August of last year.
Gillian added: “Over the festive period it was difficult. It took me back to stage one of grief.
“He has left a massive hole in our family; he was a larger than life character.
“Even when he was in hospital, before he was put into a coma, he was still laughing and joking with the nurses.
“That’s how we will always remember Justin.
“Grief has no time frame and washes over you in waves, we continue to take things one day at a time.”
Covid Aid supports and gives a voice to anyone and everyone significantly affected by the pandemic.
The charity is funded entirely by the generosity of public donations and supports families throughout the whole of the UK.
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