A SOUTHAMPTON grandmother, who spent her birthday in hospital after contracting coronavirus, is now making a full recovery.
Karen Lane started feeling unwell on March 26 with what was first thought to be a urine infection, something she had suffered with previously.
The grandmother-of-14 was bedbound for 11 days with no appetite, and family members began to notice that her breathing "sounded very off".
As Karen suffers with asthma, they did not feel this was completely out of the ordinary, however on April 8, Karen collapsed as she could not breathe when she got up to use the bathroom.
Jordan Lane, one of Karen's eight children who were all born at the Princess Anne Hospital, told the Daily Echo: "My dad immediately rang 111 who then sent an ambulance.
"She was taken to the University Hospital Southampton and was tested for Covid-19.
"On the first three tests, they came back negative and we thought this was very strange and confusing as she was displaying symptoms and doctors were convinced after X-rays etc.
"Finally on Saturday, April 11, my mum tested positive for Covid-19."
Karan was then rushed to the paediatric ward, which has been converted into a coronavirus intensive care unit (ICU), and was given a choice of a ventilator or a large oxygen mask.
Jordan said: "After a rocky 10 days in Intensive Care, my mum was finally moved to a high dependency ward on Saturday, April 18, to a round of applause, the first step to her journey home and a very emotional moment.
"She spent her 61st Birthday in hospital on Monday, a far cry from the lovely surprise 60th party we organised last year.
"Although the incredible NHS team decorated her room with banners and even blew up some gloves and drew faces on them."
Karen is now on G ward at the hospital and has now started physio.
Her family are expecting Karen to return home at the end of the week, more than one month since she was first infected and three week in hospital.
Jordan added: "We would love to share this amazing journey with the public and help to spread some positivity during this dreadful time."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here