To recovery and beyond!
A coronavirus-stricken Briton has conquered the illness thanks to a Buzz Lightyear-style helmet — but he says the real superheroes are the medical workers, according to the South West News Service.
Glenn Philpott, 59, spent five days in intensive care at the St. James Hospital in Leeds, where he said the staff “were simply incredible.”
While hospitalized, he posted updates online while wearing a helmet that his friends said made him look like the iconic Toy Story Space Ranger character.
“I may have looked ridiculous but I don’t care as it saved my life. I hope when they see a picture of me wearing the bubble mask, they might stop and think, ‘Wait, this is serious,’” said Philpott, who works for a truck dealer and is married to Jane, 59, an assistant physiotherapist.
“Those who work in the intensive care unit, none of them have done anything like this before,” he told the news outlet. “They have come from different parts of the hospital and from working in theater to now where they are on the front line fighting this virus.”
Now at home recovering, Philpott added: “I lay in bed for six days — not moving. I hadn’t used my bowels as I hadn’t eaten; I’d lost [14 pounds] and you feel you’ve lost your dignity, but they said, ‘Glenn it’s all right, we see this all the time.’”
He said some levity also helped as he battled the disease.
“A nurse who plays for Leeds United women gave me stick about my tattoo as I’m a Southampton fan,” he told the news outlet.
“It’s the little things that make the difference. You often forget the nurses are human as well,” said Philpott, who pleaded for others to follow the government’s advice.
“If one person has the virus, they can infect around 40,000 in a blink of an eye,” he said.
