'I'm so looking forward to hugging my 10 grandchildren' - Tommy (66) beats virus

Tommy Nagle and his daughter Michelle

Ralph Riegel

April 08 2020 02:30 AM

A grandfather who managed to beat Covid-19 used his birthday to issue a special message of hope - and to plead with people to follow the Government's strict social distancing controls.

Tommy Nagle (66) is now recovering from the virus at his Co Cork home and admitted the thing he is most looking forward to, when the pandemic restrictions are lifted, is hugging his 10 grandchildren, going to GAA matches and attending his beloved concerts.

The retired hospital maintenance worker said his story should offer hope to people that the feared virus can be beaten.

His devoted daughter, Michelle, revealed her father fell ill at his Whitechurch home three weeks ago.

Tommy, who worked for years at Bon Secours Hospital, had an ongoing chest complaint but, as a precaution, decided to self-isolate because he had been closely following the coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic on TV and in newspapers.

His family began to fear the worst when Tommy suddenly developed a high temperature.

"His fever got worse. He had the stove on and the windows open. He was going from one (extreme) to the other," Michelle said.

Tragically, while Tommy was sick, his older brother, Sylvester 'Sylvie' Nagle, died after a brave battle with cancer.

"I had to tell my dad through a window that his brother Sylvie had a couple of hours to live. I knew there was something radically wrong when dad couldn't even get up to go to the removal home or the funeral. He didn't get to grieve for his brother. He was so sick."

Michelle hailed medical staff at the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) as heroes.

"The care and the attention in MUH was just unbelievable. Dad could have gone one way or the other."

Thanks to the skilled medical care he received, Tommy slowly recovered and was released from MUH just 24 hours before his 66th birthday.

"Thank God we got a happy ending. I just want to give older people a bit of hope," Michelle said.

She revealed her father admitted that, when he left his home for hospital, he wasn't sure he would ever see home again.

"He really thought he was going to die," she said.

"My dad is my hero. I can't put in to words what he means to us, which is why we are so grateful to all the doctors, nurses and health staff who helped him.

"Please social-distance, please stay at home and please stay safe," Michelle urged the public.

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