The world has become a different place in the past few months, after the appearance of the fast-spreading coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic has locked us inside our homes, terrified, and it takes its death toll daily.
Therefore, even the mentioning of the virus gives us the creeps, and news related to it is rarely good. Fortunately, this is one of those times.
On April 10th, six-month-old Erin Bates tested positive for COVID-19, and she ended up hooked up to a ventilator, surrounded by tubes.
Yet, on April 23, her parents received the good news- she was a fully recovered and happy baby. The cute little Erin was at the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, England, with a heart condition and windpipe problems when she was diagnosed with the novel virus.
The diagnosis additionally devastated her parents, Emma, 29, and Wayne, 32, Bates. They started sharing photos of Erin online, to raise awareness about the importance of staying at home and practicing social distancing.
Emma remained at the hospital, but feared that in case she caught the virus herself, she would have to be taken to a different hospital. Luckily, the baby girl has pulled through, and she had tested negative for the virus after two weeks.
As she was escorted through the hospital, she received a standing ovation from NHS staff.
Alder Hey Hospital said in a statement:
“You may have heard about 6-month-old Erin who is in Alder Hey after recently being diagnosed with COVID-19. Erin was in an isolation room here for 14 days with mum Emma while being treated by our staff.
Today, little Erin beat COVID-19 after testing negative and received a guard of honor by the treating team on our HDU (High Dependency Unit) as she was moved out of isolation.
She is still being treated for other conditions at Alder Hey, but is making good progress.”
Wayne said:
“Erin has beaten the virus. It hit her hard with a few ups and downs but we wanted people to know coronavirus doesn’t have to be a death sentence for people with pre-existing conditions.”
Her parents say she is “all smiles and is talking to herself”, and they are ‘hugely relieved’.
The couple is extremely grateful for all the care and support they have received from the hospital staff.
Erin’s mom says:
“Thank you so much to each and every one of them, we couldn’t have got through it without them. They are all truly amazing and we will be forever grateful.”
As she has been unable to work while the baby is hospitalized, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family pay their bills. You can also follow the journey of this little warrior by joining Erin’s Journey Facebook group set up by Emma and Wayne.
Erin, who was born weighing just 5lbs 4oz, still uses an oxygen machine at a low concentration level, but her parents hope that her condition will improve and she will be at home for her birthday in October.
We’ll pray for her!
Sources:
www.dailymail.co.uk
www.boredpanda.com
7news.com.au