When two-times cancer survivor William Burns, 75, presented with the symptoms of coronavirus and difficulty in breathing, the doctors were not sure how William is going to win this battle. But miracles do happen. 4-weeks battle in the hospital and William has now beaten the virus and last week he was successfully discharged from the hospital.
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#1
With the world forced to take desperate measures to control the spread of this pandemic, we continue to see the surge in cases globally. This disease has not affected just one nation but it has affected almost all the countries of the world. Ths virus does not discriminate between rich or poor or healthy or unhealthy. With the world going through panic and fear and economies facing major fallout, the governments are working hard to contain the spread of this disease, something which is not possible without the cooperation of the public.
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Every day we hear stories of frontline workers fighting the disease, tragic stories of people succumbing to this disease and in the midst of this chaos and panic, we also hear some miracle stories of people beating this virus. These stories give us hope in much needed desperate times.
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Here is a miracle story of a 75-year old grandad who has beaten this deadly virus with just one lung. The man fought the battle hard against this disease for four weeks in a hospital. Medics feared two-times cancer survivor William Burns, 75, would be overcome by the ravages of the deadly disease after he was admitted with breathing problems.
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But this man was discharged from Crosshouse Hospital in Ayrshire this week with a standing ovation from his fellow patients who are beating this virus against all odds and doctors and other paramedic staff. Now the former businessman from Irvine - who is going to turn 76 on April 29 is looking forward to making a full recovery at home and living life to the full again and with a haircut high on his priorities.
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"It's a miracle I managed to get through this," said William who lost a lung to cancer in 2007 and previously battled prostate cancer.
"But I have a really positive outlook and I believe in the power of the brain.
"There was never a moment when I thought I wasn't going to make it.
"I've had viruses before but this one was very bad.
"I’m used to getting infections as my throat has been scarred by treatments but my breathing was getting worse.
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"The doctors sent me to hospital with no hesitation after asking a few questions.
"All the staff at the hospital were superb and I can't thank them enough for what they did for me while I was there.
"To get a standing ovation when I left was really nice. Everyone applauding as I came out the ward.
"It's lovely to be out. I’ve missed fresh air, without a doubt, and it feels great to be home and back in my own bed.
“It’s also been six weeks since I’ve had a haircut and my hair grows very quickly!"
William's family went through a month of agony as they saw him fighting the virus so bravely.
Because of the situation and conditions of this virus, the hospital had set strict rules to not let any family member visit the hospital. So his wife of 54 years Ruby Ivy, their five sons and 14 grandchildren had to stay at home and pray for William's speedy recovery.
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#5
The first person William got to meet after his discharge was his son Stewart who came to the hospital to pick up his dad.
Stewart said: "Without any contact it was terrible. We had to do a lot for my mum just to keep her calm and look after her as much as we could.
“Thankfully dad had his mobile phone with him and we were able to do a couple of video calls but they were kept short because of his breathlessness.
“We’re all thrilled he’s come out the other end of this. He is a survivor. I couldn’t tell you how many times he’s had pneumonia over the last 12 years since he had lung cancer.
“He’s now managed to dodge another bullet here which is just amazing. He’s in great spirits.”
For eldest son James, the wait to see his dad goes on.
He is self-isolating as a 'high-risk' case having survived cancer himself.
James said: "It's hard for me because I can’t just pop round and give him a hug and ask ‘how you doing, dad?’
"But I’m so happy he’s home safe. The doctor’s weren’t optimistic given his age and previous health conditions but we all stayed positive and prayed for him.