Rangers daft granddad's joy after he returns home following Covid battle in Glasgow

Gordon McArthur spent eight weeks in the Royal Infirmary’s intensive care unit battling the bug he caught at Christmas time.

Such was the seriousness of his condition, his loved ones were told several times to brace themselves to say their goodbyes.

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But against all the odds the die-hard Rangers fan overcame the virus and earlier this month was welcomed back to his Dalmarnock home by banners and balloons from his friends and family.

“You could see the relief on his face when he got home,” said stepdaughter Susan McCrear. “He’s a different man and just so frail.

Gordon with his wife Cathy

“He always had a wee bit of a beer belly and now it’s completely flat, so he’s liking that.”

The 63-year-old was first admitted to the Royal Infirmary in January after catching the virus during the Christmas period when taking care of his wife, Cathy, who also had the bug.

“When the restrictions were eased slightly come Christmas time, we decided since we are just a small family that we would have Christmas at mine,” said mum-of-two Susan. “It was just my mum, stepdad, my husband, and my two kids. We had a really nice Christmas.

“The next day, my mum started to show signs of a cough, a bit of a temperature.

“We just thought she had caught the cold off my two kids. She decided she would go for a Covid test and it turned out she was positive.

“Gordon nursed her better and then he contracted the virus shortly after. When he got it, he got it worse than my mum.

Gordon with grandson Liam

“On January 8, he was admitted to hospital because his oxygen levels were really low. He was taken straight into the ward.

“He was in the ward for about a week and then they said to us that he wasn’t getting enough oxygen, he had to go into intensive care, and be put on a life support machine.

“He was in intensive care for seven or eight weeks. We were told I don’t know how many times to brace ourselves, that it was critical, and that he was one of the sickest patients in the ward.

“Many a time we thought we were gonna lose him.”

Susan added: “My mum is a wee tough cookie. She’s been through many a struggle in her life.

“She’s tough in that regard but it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions.

“She didn’t know if she was going to get her husband back.

“There was no way we thought for one second that he would be in intensive care for that time.

“They didn’t know if he was going to be strong enough to pull through.

“We were phoning each other every week to give ourselves support as we just didn’t know what would happen.

“We are so thankful to the nurses and the doctors at the Royal.

Granddaughter Lucy at his return

“They are absolute miracle workers and if it wasn’t for them we could be in a different situation.”

Gordon, who is also dad to Andrew and Papa to Lucy, five, and one-year-old Liam, eventually recovered but the virus has taken its toll.

Susan added: “While he was there, he lost three stone in weight and all his muscles in his legs and his arms. He’s pretty much had to learn to stand, walk, and everything like that.

“He’s been sent home with a zimmer frame and a wheelchair, together with all of the equipment she had to take.”

During his time in hospital, Gordon missed out on watching his beloved Rangers secure their first major league title in a decade.

But the Royal Mail worker was given a shock when he opened his post last week and discovered a letter had been sent to him by the team.

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Signed by Kemar Roofe, the note wished Gordon a speedy recovery from everyone at the Ibrox club.

“In intensive care we didn’t get to speak to him for all that time,” Susan, who is married to Tony, said. “My mum didn’t speak to him for a good three months.

“He’s a diehard Rangers fan.

Rangers star Steven Davis

“He was sent a video from Steven Davis and he just loved it.

"Davis actually scored the goal in the Old Firm game that week.

Gordon with his letter from Kemar Roofe

“When he was in the hospital, he was asking me if there was any chance that I could renew his season ticket. He’ll probably be asking me to do that now that he’s home as well.”