A chronically ill 89-year-old great-grandma has beaten coronavirus after battling the killer bug in hospital for a week.
Widow Dorothy Elrick, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, was rushed into hospital a week ago with a dry cough and breathlessness.
The great-gran-of-seven is classed as high risk because she suffers from lung condition Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
But happily, after one week using an oxygen tank in hospital, Dorothy, whose husband died 14 years ago, was discharged on Friday without even realising she'd been diagnosed with the Covid-19.
Dorothy, who has two chidren, delighted family are now thanking the NHS for working around the clock to save the OAP, who they said is 'made of strong stuff'.
Grandaughter Jade Elrick, 26, said: "We obviously weren't allowed to see her - the hospital said she was in a room on her room which she didn't like, she didn't understand why we weren't able to visit.
"We tried to call but the nurses wouldn't even hand her the phone because of infection control.
"We were all worried sick - it was horrible.
"Because of social distancing, only my dad could be there to welcome her home.
"I spoke to her for the first time on Facetime when she got home and it was emotional.
"We're honestly so happy to have her back, it is such a relief.
"After she'd watched the TV when she got back she asked my dad if he'd seen the news about this virus going around and he'd told her that's what she'd had - she was none the wiser.
"But we aren't surprised she's back as she's really tough - she's had breast cancer, cancer of the womb and skin cancer and she's still going."
Gran-of-seven and great-great-gran-of-one Dorothy was taken to hospital by ambulance on March 27 after she found herself more breathless than usual and with a raging temperature.
The retired factory packer, who has also beaten three types of cancer in her life, was kept in a private isolated room for the week she was in hospital.
But the mum-of-two and great-grandma-of-seven was given the all clear and discharged from hospital last week to be reunited with her son, steelworker Ian.
Pregnant Jade said NHS staff were over the moon that Dorothy had recovered from coronavirus because of her age and health condition.
The carer said not being able to visit her gran was the most heart-breaking thing of all.
Jade and her family suspect Dorothy caught the virus from carers who visit her home, where she lives alone, four times per day, and are urging people to stay indoors to protect other elderly people.
Jade said: "We're all really close in our family. She's witty, she thinks she's a stand-up comedian.
"She's very loving and none of her grandkids can do anything wrong in her eyes.
"She's been waiting too long for me to have a child so she always says that she's not going anywhere before she gets to hold mine.
"We don't blame anyone, the carers who take care of her all wear PPE and work so hard. She has a really close relationship with them.
"It's selfish to go out. It's not about you, it's about everyone else who are going to suffer in the long run.
"It'll be someone else's family member who suffers."
