A father and son survive their battle with COVID-19 – after spending nearly a combined 100 days in a coma.
Mohammed Farooq and his son Amar Shazad have both been treated in the critical care unit at the University Hospital of North Tees over the last few weeks.
Mohamed, 51, was the first member of the family to pick up the virus after he started feeling unwell and was struggling to breathe.
Then, just a few days later, 31-year-old Amar also started to feel sick and was also admitted to intensive care.
The family from Stockton – who run Tees Valley Cabs and are well known in the area – include wife Sughra, 51, and children Ambreen, 27, Aneesa, 25, and Haaris, 19.
Aneesa said: “It was a really worrying time for the whole family. First my father got very sick and then Amar also started to feel very unwell for several days. At that point he was also admitted to hospital.”
A month ago (12 May), the first piece of good news the family were given was that Mohammed was making a good recovery. He would be taken off ventilation after a total of 34 days.
He is still making a steady rehabilitation at home with the help of regular visits from the trust’s physiotherapy team.
Then, just last week the family were given the news they had been praying for. That Amar would also be able to be discharged from the unit. After 56 days in critical care he is making a recovery in the respiratory unit.
Aneesa said: “Amar was always in a much more serious condition than my dad. He was very sick. He developed pneumonia. Had a blood clot in his leg, bowel problems and 75% of his lungs had been affected.
“We were preparing for the worst.
“Two members of our family went in to intensive care and two came out – we are so grateful and relieved.
“The team in the unit were amazing, we couldn’t fault them. Staff did everything they possibly could to save them. They stayed in touch with the family and were so compassionate. We’d like to thank them all.”
Tracey Oldfield, critical care co-ordinator, said: “It was heart-breaking for the team to have two members of the same family in the unit at the same time.
“The fact both are now fit enough to be discharged from the unit is fantastic news!
“The team are absolutely thrilled that both Mohammed and Amar are making a good recovery.”