A Motherwell mum has beaten coronavirus one week after doctors told her family to 'prepare for the worst'.
Fiona McGuigan dismissed her symptoms as food poisoning after returning from a holiday with her daughter in Turkey.
But the 60-year-old's condition began to get worse and she was rushed to Wishaw General hospital where she tested positive for coronavirus.
Mum Fiona, who has asthma and diabetes, spent 16 days alone battling the deadly virus which almost claimed her life.
Her daughter Leah McGuigan, who works a nurse, was devastated she couldn’t visit her mum and feared she would die alone in isolation.
Fiona and Leah had been on holiday early March when they started to display symptoms.
Leah developed a cough and chest tightness but put it down to change in weather.
Then after returning home Fiona began to feel ill but dismissed it as an upset stomach.
Lead added: “We thought this was a food poisoning bug so my auntie took my mum to her house to look after her.
“But the day later my mum started deteriorating, lethargic, vomiting and unable to eat or drink so my aunt phoned an ambulance."
The 27-year-old was forced to stay home while her mum was transferred to the intensive care unit after she began to deteriorate.
Leah said: “My mum is asthmatic, diabetic and over 60 so they said she was a high risk patient.
"Doctors called to say they were moving her to intensive care and our family was told to expect the worst.
“We were all terrified, I was worried about everything.
“It’s hard when you can’t speak to her or visit and just rely fully on all the staff in the hospital to act as her advocate and care for her.”
But Fiona continued to fight for her life and began to breathe on her own again.
Leah received a call from the hospital to take her mum home and described it as 'the best day of her life'.
Now her family is hoping Fiona's fight can give hope to others going through the same situation.
Leah said: "Best day of my life.
"My mum is coming home with me, that first cuddle broke my heart but she is out.
"One week ago today, we were told to expect the worse with my mum being moved to intensive care now she’s home with me.
"The staff in medical high dependency, intensive care and ward seven have saved my mums life.
"Spread some positivity about this horrible virus."
Leah added: “The staff were amazing in every ward.
“I’m a nurse so it was difficult to be at home in isolation unable to help.
“She’s still very tired and energy is low, but she’s like a new woman.
"We will forever be in debt to the amazing staff at Wishaw General for everything they did for my mum she can’t thank them enough."
