89-year old grandmother who beat breast cancer, cancer of the womb and skin cancer also defeats coronavirus

Gran-of-seven and great-great-gran-of-one Dorothy was taken to hospital by ambulance on March 27 after she found herself more breathless than usual and with a raging temperature.

The retired factory packer, who has also beaten three types of cancer in her life, was kept in a private isolated room for the week she was in hospital.

But the mum-of-two and great-grandma-of-seven was given the all clear and discharged from hospital last week to be reunited with her son, steelworker Ian.

Pregnant Jade said NHS staff were over the moon that Dorothy had recovered from coronavirus because of her age and health condition.The carer said not being able to visit her gran was the most heart-breaking thing of all.

Jade and her family suspect Dorothy caught the virus from carers who visit her home, where she lives alone, four times per day, and are urging people to stay indoors to protect other elderly people.

Grandaughter Jade Elrick, 26, said: “We obviously weren’t allowed to see her – the hospital said she was in a room which she didn’t like, she didn’t understand why we weren’t able to visit.

“We tried to call but the nurses wouldn’t even hand her the phone because of infection control.

“We were all worried sick – it was horrible.

“Because of social distancing, only my dad could be there to welcome her home.”I spoke to her for the first time on Facetime when she got home and it was emotional.

“We’re honestly so happy to have her back, it is such a relief.

“After she’d watched the TV when she got back she asked my dad if he’d seen the news about this virus going around and he’d told her that’s what she’d had – she was none the wiser.

“But we aren’t surprised she’s back as she’s really tough – she’s had breast cancer, cancer of the womb and skin cancer and she’s still going.”