Douglas Chambers, his daughter Wendy Russell and three other people came down with coronavirus symptoms just days after the birthday party, and everyone recovered except him.

Douglas Chambers, from Glasgow, was one of five people who became unwell with Covid-19 symptoms after attending the bash for his daughter Wendy Russell.

Ms Russell also fell ill three days after the party with a fever, aches and a shortness of breath that made it feel like she was drowning.

When Mr Chambers developed the same symptoms, he “knew what it meant”, but he was determined to beat the disease and get out of the hospital.

Mr Chambers, who had asthma and a heart condition, spent just over two weeks in hospital before his family was forced to turn off his life support on March 26.

His family made recordings of their voices and a playlist of his favourite Rolling Stones songs for hospital staff to play on a loop as he lay unconscious in an intensive care unit.

Ms Russell told the Rutherglen Reformer: “After he found out he had it, he was in tears, so upset. “He knew himself what it meant. He was heartbroken when he phoned me up to let me know.”

Ms Russell and the other three party guests recovered. They believe they contracted the virus at the party on March 7, just over two weeks before the UK’s lockdown began.

At that time, there were only 11 confirmed cases in Scotland and all involved patients who became infected abroad.

Coronavirus wasn’t even a topic of discussion at the birthday party, said Ms Russell. Within a week of falling ill, Mr Chambers was admitted to hospital, where he tested positive for the new strain of coronavirus.

As his condition worsened, he suddenly stopped replying to loved ones’ text messages and their calls weren’t going through to his mobile.

He was sedated and put on a ventilator in the ICU, and on March 26 a doctor delivered the devastating news that nothing else could be done in a bid to save him.

Mr Chambers’ daughter, Lynsey Chambers, 43, had to carry out the heartbreaking decision to switch off her father’s life support alone because her sister, Ms Russell, was still unwell.

Ms Chambers wore personal protective equipment (PPE), including a mask, as she was allowed to go in and say goodbye to her dying father.

The grieving sisters were unable to comfort each other due to isolation rules. Mum-of-one Ms Russell said: “Lynsey cannot sleep, because she feels like she has played God. Mr Chambers and Ms Russell did the North Coast 500 on their motorcycles last year (Image: Rutherglen Reformer)

“She is tearing herself apart, because she was the only one there and did not have that family network of support.”

Their father was laid to rest this week, but the sisters were unable to hold a funeral for him or give him a fitting tribute due to lockdown rules which have placed restrictions on services.

People in Bridgeton, where he grew up, stood and applauded as his coffin was taken from a funeral home. They timed their daily exercise so they could pay tribute to him.

Ms Russell, now recovered, rode his Triumph America motorbike behind the hearse.

It is thought that Mr Chambers contracted the virus at his daughter’s birthday party (Image: Rutherglen Reformer)

The funeral was restricted to just 10 mourners. Ms Russell said: “It is a lottery who gets to go. No church service, no last respects, no family cars. At one point we weren’t sure we would get a minister to do the service.

“We couldn’t even pick a coffin due to the shortage. The family can’t get together afterwards. They just have to go home.

“You cannot get together for a cup of tea and have a laugh about the good times. You cannot grieve. This is the kind of stuff people need to know.”

-Mirror

http://www.mediaissuesng.com/health/dad-dies-after-catching-coronavirus-at-daughters-40th-birthday-party/

Oh no!

Reality of the days we live in

Terrible