A GLASGOW family has told of its joy after a great-grandmother was given the all-clear from Covid-19... just in time to celebrate her 88th birthday. 

Rena Barr is believed to have become one of the oldest survivors in the city after beating the odds in the care of staff at Gartnavel Hospital earlier this month. 

The mother-of-eight, who is also a grandmother-of-16, has spent around seven weeks in hospitals across the city after originally being admitted to the Royal Infirmary to have a steel plate fitted into her arm, only to later catch the virus. 

Her delighted daughter Sandra, 51, told us: “Especially with her age, it’s amazing she came through. I obviously was taking it seriously, but it was only when one of the nurses said to me there were times when they thought she wouldn’t make it that it really hit home.

“Her age and the amount of oxygen she was on didn’t look good but they’ve been calling her a wee trooper and all that.

“We can’t thank the nurses and doctors enough. They were excellent throughout it all.

“The nurses were updating us through everything and one even gave us her mobile number and told us we could contact her whenever we needed something.

“Honestly, they were so amazing and were really, really good for us.”

Sandra added: “She was in the Royal Infirmary because she had fallen and went through surgery to get a steel plate in her arm. 

 

Glasgow Times: Sandra (with blonde hair), with mum Rena, brother Richard, and sister-in-law Tricia Sandra (with blonde hair), with mum Rena, brother Richard, and sister-in-law Tricia

“This was around two weeks before Mother’s Day and she was later taken to Gartnavel. She was there for a week or so where she caught the coronavirus.

“She got the all-clear on the Saturday and then celebrated her 88th birthday on the Sunday.” 

Rena is due to head home to Parkhead tomorrow where many of her family and friends will welcome her while adhering to social distancing measures. 

Sandra added: “We can’t wait to welcome her home and already have a big banner made up for her. 

“Her pals are gonna come and keep their social distance just to welcome her.

“Her oldest grandson stays in Australia and one of her granddaughters stays in London, so they were even thinking about trying to come and see us.

“Her wee grandson Scott was praying every night for her to come home and so were so many others from the chapel. 

“The grandkids are all delighted she is coming home and can’t wait even just to be able to FaceTime her. 

Glasgow Times: The family has prepared a banner to welcome home much-loved Rena on Tuesday The family has prepared a banner to welcome home much-loved Rena on Tuesday

“The hardest part of it is not being able to visit someone when they’re in hospital and you’re relying on others.

“We had a Zoom meeting for her birthday and had a party. The nurses had a cake for her and sang for her. She just loved it and all the attention. 

“She now looks the picture of health and you can’t really believe it – she has come through it.” 

Do you have a good news story of a loved one's recovery from Covid-19 you would like to share with us? Get in touch by emailing news@glasgowtimes.co.uk.