'I'm amazed at how quickly I've managed to turn things around' - Sunderland great-grandmother reflects on coronavirus battle
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Marion Jolliff, 62, from Pennywell, was in a coma for more than a fortnight after she was taken to South Tyneside District Hospital in early March.
There, she tested positive for coronavirus and spent four weeks in hospital undergoing intensive treatment.
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Hide AdDuring that time Marion’s family were unable to visit and had to rely on telephone updates from the hospital.
Since then Marion has been regaining her strength but still remains clueless as to how she contracted Covid-19.
“I’m doing fine,” Marion said.
“Everybody is saying that I’m looking fit and well and I’m putting it down to my sun tan!”
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Hide AdMarion has spent much of the 100 days of lockdown recovering from the illness.
She said: “I go out to sit in my green house every day and have been playing lockdown bingo with my neighbours and family members who live on the street.
“I have been round the shops a few times on my mobility scooter and everyone is saying that its good to see me out and about.
“When I first came home from hospital I couldn’t do anything – I couldn’t write or read – but now I am back to doing the likes of my bead pictures and have even been down the beach a couple of times.
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Hide AdAlthough Marion is now struggling with unrelated leg pain, she said she is not on any medication for coronavirus since returning home from hospital.
She said the only remaining impact to her health related to having coronavirus is that she sometimes feels a bit breathless when speaking.
The family have an oxygen meter in the house and are keeping an eye on Marion’s oxygen levels.
Marion said that she has not had to have a return visit to hospital regarding coronavirus since returning home, but said that before she left she had a chest X-ray which showed she was improving.
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Hide AdMarion recalled suffering from delirium in hospital and seeing hallucinations of cockroaches on the walls. Since then she has had problems with her memory and does not remember the run-up to going into hospital or any of the four weeks receiving care.
And sadly it was only after she came home that Marion learned her brother Joe Jenkins, 65, of the Ford Estate, had died following his own battle with the illness.
But Marion couldn’t be more grateful to the NHS, saying that said she owes her life to those who cared for her.
“I am amazed at how quickly I have managed to turn things around,” Marion said.
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Hide Ad“The doctors saved my life and I am so grateful to them, especially with being the first one to have it.
“I’m glad I went to South Tyneside Hospital as it is such a lovely hospital, the staff are fantastic.”