Toddington man recovering from coronavirus says NHS are 'shining light of humanity'

Neil Mead, a father-of-three, was admitted to Stoke Mandeville on March 25 and by Good Friday was in ICU.

He says he received a variety of treatments, including antibiotics, anti-Malaria drugs and steroids, and whether through these or just his own immune system he is now thankful to on the mend, although still in hospital.

Neil told us: “I have recovered mostly but with damaged lungs and a rapid heartbeat.

“I’m truly thankful and after five weeks confined I'm looking forward to release from hospital in the near future.

“My love and thanks to NHS staff will live with me always. They are our shining light of humanity and the sacrifices some of them have made are saintly. God bless them all.”

Catherine Britton, Neil's partner with whom he had been self-isolating, described Neil as “the life and soul of the party.”

She added: “The reason I’m writing to you is to express our gratitude for the wonderful treatment and care he has received at Stoke Mandeville - they always go the extra mile.

“One young nurse visited him on her day off to bring him some Muller Rice as it was the only thing he fancied to eat!

“The family liaison team rang me every day to update me and arranged for an iPad so I could FaceTime him!

“Any time I needed to speak to a doctor or nurse they were so patient and compassionate with me when frankly I was a bit of an emotional wreck!”

Neil, who is a coppersmith by trade, enjoys photography and playing his guitar in his spare time.

He said that he feels the NHS staff at Stoke Mandeville have given him his life back and has vowed to make the most of it: “I will cherish every moment as a new life reborn. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”