Great-gran back home after 18-day Covid battle

A doughty great-grandmother from Tuam is back home this week, after coming through 18 days in hospital, battling with Covid-19.

Kitty Farrell has been home on Ballygaddy Road for a week – but it was only on Tuesday that members of her family were allowed visit her, as she was still in isolation up until then.

When Kitty arrived home, she was greeted by her daughter Aideen and son Kevin along with four of her grandchildren and her great-grandson Mikey.

Her two other sons, Pat in Drogheda and Colm in England, could not be present through travel restrictions.

Neighbours and friends – all maintaining social distance requirements – also assembled outside her house as she waved while being taken from the ambulance.

And that was a long way from the trauma of a Mother’s Day like no other for Kitty, when she was first taken by ambulance from her home to UHG, having developed a debilitating cough the previous week.

On admission, she tested positive for coronavirus despite not having any of the principal symptoms associated with the disease, like a tightness of the chest or an exceptionally high temperature.

The retired businesswoman who will be celebrating her 80th birthday at the end of the month, was then put into isolation – and for the following nine days she admitted she was seriously ill.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now or available to buy in digital format. You can also order the Connacht Tribune for inclusion in your home delivery.