AN IRVINE gran refused a ventilator as she fought off coronavirus in hospital because she feared she would never wake up.

Karen Green, 53, spent 12 days at Crosshouse Hospital, but she was determined to stay awake and fight the illness which had ravaged her lungs.

She feared that she would not survive being sedated on a ventilator.

The gran of eight started displaying symptoms of the virus with a constant cough, before she struggled to breath.

She told the Times: “I was in hospital from March 29 till April 10.

“It started with a cough, but it became worse. It was an unusual cough, like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, it was constant.

“I got my husband to phone for an ambulance as I started having problems breathing.”

Karen who is asthmatic was taken into hospital where she was sent to intensive care .

There, she was placed a room with doctors and nurse frantically doing all they could to keep her oxygen levels up.

Concerned medics wanted to sedate her in order to place her on a ventilator to assist her breathing.

Karen said: “I wasn’t on a ventilator. I refused it as I had heard so many things about people who went on one and didn’t survive.

“They wanted to put me on to a ventilator because it would help my breathing, but I didn’t want it.

“There was a lot of activity all around me, the machine kept going off if my oxygen levels dropped or I wasn’t taking enough deep breaths.

“It was frightening I thought my number was up.”

Karen has thanked all the heroic NHS staff who saved her life.

She added: “The doctors and nurses at the hospital went above their duty for me. They saved my life.

“Even after I had recovered, they told me that I’d worked hard to get there, that just shows how amazing they are.”

Husband, Stuart, 57, came to pick her up from the hospital and gave the caring staff some chocolates and biscuits to say thank you.

Karen who has three children, communicated with some of her family through WhatsApp whilst she was in hospital

She also had vocal backing from her mum Sheena Martin, 74, who despite living in England, would sing every Thursday after Clap For Carers.

The professional singer, would belt out ‘Over the Rainbow’ and classic War song ‘We’ll Meet Again’.

And her daughter’s coronavirus fight caught the attention of people all over the world who sent messages to Karen.

Karen added: “My mum is in England, but no one could visit.

“My sister died 10 years ago, and my mum was worried she would lose

me.

“She was singing in her garden after the Clap for Carers, and received messages of support from America, all over the world.”

Karen is also part of a North Ayrshire group Active Kindness who she got involved with to help her deal with depression and anxiety.

She said: “I am overwhelmed by all the support from everyone.

“It really helped get me through it.”

  *******************

Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. We’re not exaggerating when we say that the future of the Irvine Times, and the vital local news service we’ve provided since 1873, is under threat.

Please consider supporting the Irvine Times in whatever way you can – by paying just 90p for a copy of the paper, when you’re shopping for essential supplies for yourself and others, or by subscribing to our e-edition here.

Thanks – and stay safe.