Peter Elcock is a real survivor. After coming through a terrifying bout of covid that saw him in a coma and relying on a ventilator for weeks, he’s been hit by several other health setbacks – but the 59-year-old says he’s a lucky man enjoying his family and working life and looking to the future.
That includes taking part in a research study into the long covid that still affects him day to day, as well as sharing experiences and advice with other covid survivors in a support group.
“The NHS has kept me alive,” he says. “That’s why I want to help. My life isn’t just about me – people have tried so much to help and support me, I’ve seen the best of the NHS, not just physically when I was in intensive care but the support afterwards.
“I’m happy to come back and take part in this research that’s looking at the effects of long covid on my immune system and I hope that it will help others.”
Memory gap
His story goes back to November 2020 when his worried wife had to call an ambulance to take him to Salford Royal. Peter, who works in security, doesn’t remember that journey – or indeed anything – until January when he was brought out of a coma only to go into cardiac arrest.
Eventually, after several more setbacks, he was safely brought out of the coma but was still reliant on the CPAP ventilator – and terrifyingly had lost his memory of just about everything. He explained: “I couldn’t remember anything at all. Who I was, where I was, how I got there – I just knew I was in some type of institution. I had hallucinations, vision problems, was very weak, I lost more than 5 stone in weight.
“But as I became more stable, I was determined to get home and eventually I managed to walk up a flight of stairs to prove I was fit enough – even though it took everything I had.”
Coping mechanism
Since then, Peter has been diagnosed with diabetes, has had two minor strokes, heart problems and has difficulties with brain fog. “It was one problem after another,” he said, “I’ve even been hit by a truck at work! I seem to have the lives of a cat but you can’t feel sorry for yourself, you just have to adjust, create your coping mechanisms and not give up.
“Some simple things help, like keeping a diary. And I’m happy with my life – I used to take my health for granted and bottle things up but I express my feelings now and I’ve got more empathy.
“My life has changed dramatically because of covid but I’m still here and looking ahead.”