Dad with ‘zero chance’ of surviving coronavirus weaned off ventilator but he is 'not out of the woods yet'

Sue Martin spoke to The Independent on 7 April about her husband being in intensive care with Covid-19

A woman who was told by doctors that her husband had “zero chance” of surviving Covid-19 after being admitted to intensive care has said he is being moved into the “weaning phase” of ventilation by doctors.

Sue Martin from south Wales, spoke to The Independent, about her husband Mal, 58, on 7 April – after he was admitted to ICU on 29 March – and said doctors would have “expected to see improvement” if he was going to survive the virus.

The doctors were so sure that Mal was going to die that they allowed Sue and her two children 10 minutes with him to say goodbye - but they had to wear PPE (personal protective equipment) and couldn't touch him.

The 49-year-old said: "All three of us stood around his bed. My children said their goodbyes to their dad who, just a few short weeks ago was absolutely fine. I never thought I could feel this much pain."

But over a week later he is still alive and is being gradually taken off the ventilator after 17 days on it.

Ms Martin told The Independent: “He isn’t getting better as such, he is pretty much the same but the hospital have now said he has moved on to the weaning phase which is brilliant news.

“So he isn’t out of the woods and it’s going to be a long and painful process. We don’t know whether he will wake up, or how he will be.

“We also don’t know yet if he will need a tracheotomy, but he is still here which is amazing.

"I’ve been completely open with [the children] about everything and it was awful when we thought we were going to lose him to have to have a conversation about what we would do about a funeral in these awful times," she added.

Ms Martin confirmed to The Independent that the family has still not been able to visit Mal at the hospital and instead wait at home for their daily phone call from the consultant.

She added that the weaning phase is going to be “extremely long, slow and painful” and there are “no guarantees” it will be successful. “But we are prepared for whatever it brings”.

Ms Martin previously said that she wouldn’t mind being a carer for the rest of her husband’s life if it meant he could come home to her and their children.

“Whilst we are trying to keep our feet on the ground, we continue to hope. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, we just want him home with us.”

Ms Martin also expressed her gratitude to the team of NHS staff caring for Mal: “We are so, so grateful to the ICU team who are continuing to care for Mal, they, and everyone else on the front line are wonderful human beings.”

The family have also been “overwhelmed by support from around the world” since the publication of their story in The Independent.

“I’m sorry I can’t reply to every one of them [messages],” she said.

"Our friends and neighbours have been just incredible, constantly checking in, providing meals, bread, cake and plants."