A 76-year-old man who spent 81 days in hospital in Lincoln has now recovered from coronavirus and wanted to say a big thank you to the staff who saved his life.
Frank William Smith, who is known by his friends and family as Billy, was admitted to Lincoln County Hospital on April 13 with respiratory issues.
Within a few days of being in hospital, he was given a test for coronavirus which came back positive.
Frank spent a lot of time under a ventilator and, after 81 days in hospital, including 71 in ICU and time on the Navenby and Carlton/Coleby Wards, he tested negative for the virus and was discharged to return home on July 2.
He told The Lincolnite that when he was first admitted he had nightmares to start with after catching sight of people on the COVID-19 ward dressed with full masks and visors.
Once he started to meet the staff, he soon realised how good the nurses were and he became friends with two of the physiotherapists named Alex and James.
He recalls being told that he nearly lost his life and will be forever grateful to the staff that saved him.
He said: “I can’t say enough about these people. The nurses and doctors were brilliant, and everyone there deserves a medal for working with this COVID-19 as it is evil. It was scary to be laid there thinking there is nothing I can do.
“They thought I wasn’t going to make it, but I’m an awkward sod and thought this isn’t going to beat me and I just carried on and let staff do what they needed to do. I lost my voice for a while due to a tracheostomy so had to communicate through writing until a few weeks before I came home.”
Frank spent 81 days in Lincoln County Hospital, including 71 in ICU.
It was a scary time for both Frank and his wife Maria, who have been together for 13 years and married for just over 12 months.
Frank added: “I feel a bit weak now, but I am getting there. They have given me a four-wheeled stroller to use and it feels super [to be reunited with Maria]. She was the only one allowed in ICU as a visitor, but it is amazing to be home again with her.”
It was a stressful time for Maria, who was ringing the hospital every day for the first three months to get updates on her husband’s condition.
Frank and Maria have been together for 13 years and married for just over 12 months.
She said the first month was very critical and at one point it didn’t look like Frank was going to survive.
Maria also started to get symptoms of the virus with a high temperature, so then had to self isolate and stay at home, but quickly felt better again and is now “over the moon” to have her husband home.
She said: “It makes me so happy that he is alive and I couldn’t imagine life without him, he is an amazing man.
“He recalls staff saying he nearly died twice and has praised staff, in particular those on the ICU unit, the COVID-19 nurses, and the physiotherapists Alex and James. He also remembers a nurse on his first day called Julia who was very good and he is thankful to everyone.”
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Cllr Bob Bushell, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place at City of Lincoln Council said: “In Lincoln, we are very fortunate to have some incredible parks and green spaces, with Hartsholme Country Park being a much-loved spot for families and visitors.
“The park has been especially popular over the last two years during the Covid-19 pandemic, being a haven for residents to enjoy outdoor spaces close to their homes.
“I would urge anyone to help us crown this fabulous park as one of the UK’s favourites.”
Once voting has closed on 18 August, the one park with the highest number of votes in each of England, Scotland, Wales and Nothern Ireland will be shortlisted.
The overall winner of UK’s Favourite Parks 2022 will be revealed in late-August.
Works to make the A52 Somerby Hill roundabout larger, as part of the Grantham Southern Relief Road project, are now finished.
Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: “People in and around Grantham will be very happy to know that the A52 Somerby Hill roundabout is now fully back open without any traffic management.
“Over the past eleven months, the team has worked tirelessly to make the roundabout larger as part of the relief road project. Not only did this include fully rebuilding sections of the roundabout, but the team also installed new drainage, street lighting and kerbs here.
“Moving forward, the team will be installing four sets of bridge piers and preparing a planning amendment for the new River Witham/East Coast Main Line bridge. We’ll also be focusing on completing the section of new road to the east, between the new mid-route development and Somerby Hill roundabouts.
“I want to thank everyone for bearing with us while we upgraded the roundabout and for your patience moving forward as continue building your new Grantham Southern Relief Road.”
The Grantham Southern Relief Road project is being led by Lincolnshire County Council and supported by South Kesteven District Council, Greater Lincolnshire LEP, Highways England, Department for Transport, Network Rail, Homes England and local businesses.
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