A brave 61-year-old south Dublin man with a rare, life threatening condition has fought off Covid after nearly a three-month battle in hospital.
Tallaght man Pete Brennan, who suffers from Brittle Asthma, defied all odds to beat the virus after his eight and a half week struggle.
Brittle asthma is a rare form of severe asthma and those living with it can experience serious and often life threatening attacks.
Fearing for his life when he contracted the deadly coronavirus, Pete - who featured in the Covid-19 RTE Investigates programme - went into Tallaght hospital on January 15 and was on ventilation two weeks later as he struggled to breath.
Just 12 days after that, following on from a tracheostomy, he began to slowly recover and wake up.
Pete was miraculously released from hospital and is currently fighting fit and recovering in the Peamount Rehabilitation Facility.
Niamh Flanagan, Pete's long time girlfriend, confirmed the news to Dublin Live:
She said: "After a roller coaster eight and a half weeks, my partner Pete has beaten Covid and has left the wonderful care of the amazing staff in Tallaght University hospital.
"He is recuperating in Peamount healthcare rehabilitation facility, where he will undergo extensive physio on his lungs initially and then the rest of his body as there is increased muscle wastage in his legs and general body as well as lung damage."
"His battle now is to get back to physical fitness and be able to restart a normal life.
"We are overjoyed to see him progress so well and to know that he will be home in time. It is the next step in a happy outcome."
Niamh continued: "It was wonderful to see each new reaction on video calls and when we heard he was out of ICU it was wonderful news and then to tell us he was going to Peamount, well that was the best.
"He will get there in time and I might even get to enjoy sharing my 50th birthday with him in May, if not we will celebrate when he's home.
"I couldn't have gotten through this time without the help and support of Pete's amazing family and our fantastic friends."
She added: "His physio is very impressed with his progress and has him doing some basic exercises as he got him standing with minimal help and he is doing most of the work himself.
"He stood holding the Zimmer Frame for two minutes and they reckon he won't be in for too long all things going to plan."
