Meet Lincolnshire’s youngest coronavirus fighter

A one-year-old girl from Coningsby has been described as a “little fighter” after becoming one of the youngest in the country to recover from coronavirus.

Agata and Michael Peters welcomed their daughter Leah into the world 15 months ago. She was born prematurely at 32 weeks and five days and has been in and out of hospital ever since.

They knew before birth that she had a congenital heart defect and, because of her early arrival, she also has chronic lung disease.

She had operations on her heart and treatment for her lungs before, more recently, being diagnosed with COVID-19 at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston.

The family feared Leah, who is due to have another heart operation this summer, may struggle due to her other health conditions, but the “little fighter” is making good progress back at home.

She is among more than 130 patients diagnosed with coronavirus who have already been able to leave ULHT’s hospitals.

Agata said: “A few weeks ago we noticed that Leah had a bit of a cough, but living in a house with us and her two older sisters Natalie, aged four, and Emily, aged five, we assumed it was a cold or another bug they had brought home and were not overly worried.

“Because of Leah’s heart condition we have a nurse come to visit her at home every week. The nurse took her stats and as they were a bit low and combined with the cough she called an ambulance and we were taken to the emergency department at Pilgrim hospital where she was given oxygen and she picked up a bit.

“It was only later when we were on the ward that we heard that she had tested positive for coronavirus. We really were surprised. Because of Leah’s existing conditions we had talked about coronavirus and feared if she caught it she would really struggle. But she is a little fighter and has surprised us all. She was sent home the day after we received the test results and is doing really well at the moment.

“All of the NHS staff have been amazing. Even through all of the protective personal equipment (PPE) they have to wear, they have been so sweet and caring. We couldn’t have asked for any more from the team at Boston. Thank you just isn’t enough, it doesn’t describe how grateful we all are.”

Mark Brassington, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust Deputy Chief Executive, said: “Staff across the NHS and social care in Lincolnshire and across the country are going above and beyond, doing everything they can to care for patients like Leah. It really does lift all of our spirits to hear how well she is now doing.

“Leah is among more than 130 patients diagnosed with coronavirus who have already been able to leave our hospitals to continue with their recoveries.

“Our message to everyone reading Leah’s story is thank you for supporting the NHS and doing your bit by staying home. It really is making a difference so please keep it up!”

ULHT said last week that more than 120 people were discharged from its hospitals after recovering from coronavirus. The most senior patient was 101-years-old. If you know the identity of the 101-year-old, please get in touch at [email protected] so we can share the positive news of their recovery.