Bishopbriggs great-gran with terminal cancer celebrates birthday after beating coronavirus

After her daughter Angela Grubb and son-in-law Gus developed Coronavirus symptoms and self-isolated at home, great-grandmother Mavis, who has been cared for the past month at the Marie Curie Hospice, Glasgow, in turn developed a high temperature.

Test results on 31 March confirmed the news she had been dreading.

Mavis said: “I burst into tears. I thought I have so much wrong with me, I’m not going to get through.

“But here I am.”

Now reunited back home with Angela, Gus and grandson Ross (age 27), the family celebrated Mavis’ special birthday on 10 April with balloons, cake, presents and a day of emotional Facetime calls to family, including her great-grandchildren.

Angela and Gus’ daughter Gillian (age 23) and her partner have moved out of the house to protect Mavis as they both work at Tesco.

Mavis wants to thank Marie Curie for her care: “The hospice were absolutely fabulous, the staff are so caring. The minute you walk through the door they do anything for you.”

Angela added her thanks: “Mum describes the hospice as a five-star hotel. After moving in with us last year, I found it hard to let go of her care, but the staff were all just fantastic. She even had her meals specially cooked for her - salmon with sauce! I’m not a cook so she’s back to basics now!

“Mum was doing her embroidery to pass the time, chatting to staff and even started watching soaps again – Emmerdale is her favourite!

“She’s loved getting back to her wee dog and we are so grateful to have her home. Marie Curie are continuing to check in with us and they got us the proper equipment that mum needs at home. A proper hospital bed, a rise and fall chair, a portable frame called a Sara Steady to safely transport her between her rooms and shifting sheets for moving and handling. It’s made such a difference.”

The Coronavirus lock-down has had a silver lining for the family. Gus, a Dean of Faculty at City of Glasgow College, has more time now he’s working from home and has been able to give more help with Mavis’ care.

Although the birthday’s over, the celebrations won’t stop there as the family look forward to coming out of lock-down. Speaking about that time, Mavis simply says: “We’ll celebrate!”

Irene Johnstone, Marie Curie Hospice Manager said: “We are so happy for Mavis and her family that they’ve recovered from this devastating virus. It’s so special that she was able to spend her birthday at home surrounded by her loved ones and wee dog that she adores.

“Our hospices and nurses are on the frontline caring for dying people, both with and without coronavirus. We’re pulling out all the stops to care for patients and helping relieve pressure on the NHS at this time.

“However, we’re still struggling to get the PPE we need and we feel helpless and heartbroken that we might not be able to provide care for everyone that needs it and that patients might have to go to hospital or be at home alone without support.

“We are having to turn to third party suppliers who are charging 1200% more for items such as masks, at a time when our fundraising has been decimated. We need to raise a quarter of a million pounds in Scotland, £2.5 million across the UK, every week in order to care for dying and terminally ill patients at home and in our hospices, with and without Coronavirus.”

To donate to Marie Curie’s Emergency Appeal donate online at www.mariecurie.org.uk/emergency or text NURSE to 70633. Texts cost £5 plus 1 standard rate message. 98% is received by Marie Curie. To unsubscribe text OUT to 78866.

The Marie Curie Support Line is now open seven days a week to help with the information you need when you need it. Call free 0800 090 2309* or visit mariecurie.org.uk/coronavirus