A 92-year-old grandmother who contracted Covid-19 has beaten the virus and returned home from hospital.
When Enid Williams, from Holywell, tested positive for coronavirus her family were given the heartbreaking news from doctors that the pensioner may not survive.
She was admitted to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd around six weeks ago with another health issue, but was later transferred to Holywell Community Hospital.
But three days before Ms Williams was due to come home she fell ill with a fever and a cough and was swabbed for the virus - with the results coming back positive the next day.
Ms William's granddaughter Abbie Pritchard said: "The hospital phoned my mum and told her nan had got coronavirus and she may not survive. It was heartbreaking, just awful. The worst part was that we weren't able to see her and thinking that she was going through it alone.
"The nurses were just fantastic. We were able to drop off an iPhone to her and they taught her how to use it and answer it without any help. She kept saying 'I miss you' and one day she said she didn't think she could fight it anymore. It was heartbreaking."
But amazingly, Ms Williams recovered and on Monday (April 20) she was able to return home - and received a welcome back from her family.
Ms Pritchard said: "We were there to see her home - but it was at a distance. I thought she would be really happy, but she was crying her eyes out.
"She said it was a mixture of being excited and feeling emotional over coming home, because she thought she never would. The family took it in turns to go and talk to her through the window. It was lovely."
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Ms Williams will celebrate her 93rd birthday on May 13 - but with lockdown measures currently still in place the celebrations may have to be delayed, Ms Pritchard said. Although the family are doing their best to make sure she has her favourite custard slice on the big day.
The family have praised the kind-hearted staff at Holywell Community Hospital, saying they "owe everything to them".
"The nurses have all been fantastic - not just for the care they have given, but also for their friendship. They really replaced us as family by giving her comfort and giving her encouragement. We really do owe them everything. No matter what the outcome would have been they really did do everything that they could for her." Ms Pritchard said.
Ms Pritchard described her grandmother as an “amazing strong lady”.
She said: "Whilst in hospital she was looking after all the other ladies, making sure they were okay and giving them biscuits and even tucking them in at night. She was doing her own washing in the bathroom and hanging it all out to dry. She is an amazing, strong lady."
Ms Pritchard said she hopes that her grandmother's recovery will give hope to other families who are worried about loved ones.
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"We really do hope this gives other people hope if they are going through the same thing. When nan was in hospital we kept showing her news stories about other elderly people who had beaten the virus - and it really did help.
“We are aware there are thousands of families who have not been as fortunate and our thoughts go out to them."
A Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board spokesman said: “We’re thrilled that Mrs Williams is well enough to return home and we would like to thank her family for their kind words about our Holywell Community Hospital staff, who are all working incredibly hard in difficult circumstances.”
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