A mum has told how she felt she was dying after contracting the Delta variant of coronavirus.
Donna Binns, 40, was struck down by the deadly bug on May 17.
The new variant has caused havoc in the UK, after replacing the Kent strain as the dominant strain in the UK. The virus is still 'very real', warns Donna who has since been discharged from hospital.
Initially, the Stockport mum-of-five thought she had the flu.
But within a week she was rushed to Stepping Hill Hospital in an ambulance, struggling to breathe.
A chest X-ray confirmed that she had Covid and she was sent home, but collapsed at the bottom of the stairs three days later.
After husband Andy, who had also tested positive, called an ambulance, she was taken back to Stepping Hill.
"My breathing became very shallow because I felt like I had no oxygen, " she explained.
"It feels like your chest is being crushed. It's the scariest thing I have ever been through."
Tests confirmed that her oxygen levels were extremely low, and she was placed in a room by herself.
She was swabbed for the Delta variant of coronavirus, formerly known as the Indian strain.
"They told me that the level of infection in my blood was well over the odds," said Donna.
"There weren't any Covid wards open when I was admitted for the second time, so at first I was in a side room on my own.
"I was swabbed for the Delta or Indian variant, as people were calling it at the time, and tested positive.
"After a week the Covid ward was re-opened and I was moved onto there.
"Even though I was on oxygen it started to affect my bladder, liver and kidneys.
"I think that's why I felt so poisoned by it. I couldn't walk or hardly talk because I was so breathless.
"I actually rang my brother and told him I thought that I was dying. I was traumatised by what was happening."
Donna, who owns Kiddiwinks Nursery in Woodley, spent two weeks in hospital until she was stable enough to go home on June 8.
Doctors warned her that it could take three months for her to fully recover.
The mum-of-five, who had not had her first jab when she fell ill, is still breathless and now suffering from brain fog.
Her husband Andy, and four of her children, Bradley, six, Skye, nine, Jayden, 11 and Amber, 12, all tested positive for the same strain, while her eldest son, Arron, 20, tested negative.
Andy, 46, and Amber had symptoms but recovered relatively quickly as Donna became more and more ill.
There have been no confirmed cases at the couple's nursery. Donna, who acts as director, had not been to Kiddiwinks before or during her illness so as not to interfere with the staff and children's bubbles. She admits having previously being naïve about the virus, and now wants to warn people of the seriousness of the Delta variant.
She added: "I want people to realise that this virus is still very real and can make you so ill.
"I think it's really brought it home to my friends and family how serious it can be. I have had all the symptoms and I'm still on a cocktail of medication.
"I can see the kids staring at me sometimes wondering what's happened to me.
"My eldest daughter has been amazing - she's been looking after me and doing my hair.
"It really does put life in perspective."
