A SCOTTISH great gran with terminal cancer has celebrated her 81st birthday after beating the coronavirus.

Mavis Torrance, who has been cared for at the Marie Curie Hospice in Glasgow for the last month, developed a high fever after her daughter Angela and son-in-law Gus came down with coronavirus symptoms. Tests on March 31 confirmed the family’s fears.

But less than a month later Mavis and her family have been reunited at home – with a birthday celebration consisting of balloons, cake, presents and lots of emotional video calls to her great grandchildren.

The National:

Speaking on her coronavirus diagnosis, Mavis said: “I burst into tears. I thought I have so much wrong with me, I’m not going to get through.

“But here I am.”

The 81-year-old wanted to thank Marie Curie for her care: “The hospice were absolutely fabulous, the staff are so caring. The minute you walk through the door they do anything for you.”

Angela added her thanks: “Mum describes the hospice as a five-star hotel. After moving in with us last year, I found it hard to let go of her care, but the staff were all just fantastic. She even had her meals specially cooked for her - salmon with sauce! I’m not a cook so she’s back to basics now!

“Mum was doing her embroidery to pass the time, chatting to staff and even started watching soaps again – Emmerdale is her favourite!

“She’s loved getting back to her wee dog and we are so grateful to have her home. Marie Curie are continuing to check in with us and they got us the proper equipment that mum needs at home. A proper hospital bed, a rise and fall chair, a portable frame called a Sara Steady to safely transport her between her rooms and shifting sheets for moving and handling. It’s made such a difference.”

The hospice’s manager Irene Johnstone said staff were “so happy” for Mavis.

She said: “Our hospices and nurses are on the frontline caring for dying people, both with and without coronavirus. We’re pulling out all the stops to care for patients and helping relieve pressure on the NHS at this time.”

But Johnstone added she had some concerns over access to PPE.

She went on: “We are having to turn to third party suppliers who are charging 1200% more for items such as masks, at a time when our fundraising has been decimated. We need to raise a quarter of a million pounds in Scotland, £2.5 million across the UK, every week in order to care for dying and terminally ill patients at home and in our hospices, with and without Coronavirus.”

To donate to Marie Curie’s Emergency Appeal donate online at www.mariecurie.org.uk/emergency or text NURSE to 70633 – tests cost £5 plus one standard message.

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