'If it was not for them I wouldn’t have survived' - Sunderland grandmother's praise for NHS after coronavirus battle
A grandmother who became the first person in Sunderland to be diagnosed with coronavirus has said she owes her life to the NHS as she describes her ‘nightmare’ fight for survival.
Marion Jolliff, 62, from Pennywell, was in a coma for more than a fortnight after she was taken to South Tyneside District Hospital in early March.
After spending four weeks in hospital the grandmother was allowed home on Tuesday, April 7, where she is slowly regaining her strength but remains clueless as to how she contracted Covid-19.
“I am learning everything right from the beginning and I am now walking using a zimmer frame.
“I have been over the moon just being able to open the likes of a packed of crisps as I have had no strength whatsoever.
“It has just been a nightmare and it is going to be a long recovery.”
Marion recalled suffering fromdelirium in hospital and seeing hallucinations of cockroaches on the walls.
Since then she has had problems with her memory and does not remember the run-up to going into hospital or any of the four weeks receiving care.
And sadly it was only after she came home that Marion learned her brother Joe Jenkins, 65, of the Ford Estate, had died following his own battle with the illness.
She said: “I never even knew I was in hospital, I was just gone and didn't know anything or how long I was in hospital for.
“It was a week before I was told about my brother. Joe was a lovely lad and would do anything for anybody.
“He was daft as a brush and we would always look after each other.”
His funeral will be held at Sunderland Crematorium on Tuesday, April 21 but just eight family members can attend meaning Marion will not be able to go and pay her respects in person.
The devoted grandmother also missed her granddaughter’s wedding back in March whilst in hospital.
But Marion couldn’t be more grateful to the NHS, saying that said she owes her life to the ‘fantastic’ staff who cared for her at South Tyneside District Hospital.
“The NHS staff were fantastic, the couldn’t do enough for me,” she said.
“They are so dedicated – I have never known a hospital like it. If it was not for them I wouldn’t have survived.”
And Marion made sure to show her appreciation for their life-saving work when she took part in the NHS clap on Thursday after returning home from hospital.
She added: “I joined in with the street who were clapping for the NHS and I was over the moon as well because the whole street was clapping for me when I cam back from hospital on Tuesday.”