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By Michelle Crean

After a fierce five-week battle with COVID-19, much loved Killarney woman Sheila Crowley is out of immediate danger and making a slow recovery after being taken off the ventilator last weekend - and is expected to be moved out of the COVID ward within days.

Sheila (60), who lives in Rathmore but is originally from Headford, faces months of recovery after being rushed into ICU at University Hospital Kerry (UHK) critically ill with the deadly virus. Her lungs were "completely full of the virus" according to her family who prayed with at least one hundred others every single day while she fought for her life.

Currently Sheila is on high flow oxygen and only days ago still tested positive for the virus - but is expected to be moved out to a regular ward as soon as she tests negative. However, although in good form, her family says they have no idea how long her recovery will take.

"She is in an isolation room in the COVID ward as she's still testing positive," her niece Ashley Crowley told the Killarney Advertiser yesterday (Thursday). "At least she's out of major danger. We think she'll be moved out to another ward with days once she tests negative but there's a very long road ahead."

In January her family spoke to the Killarney Advertiser to highlight to the public just how dangerous and infectious the virus is - saying they are still "completely baffled" as to how and where she contracted it.

Their prayers for her recovery were answered however, as Sheila was taken off the ventilator last Saturday.

"Her mobility and speech have been affected. We can't speak to her on the mobile but we write letters every day and drop them into her once a week. Sheila is always on our minds. She's smiling all the time and in great form. The main thing is she is doing OK."

Ashley added that they've missed dreadfully her over the five weeks as they usually see her every day.

However, she also added that she's grateful for all the prayers and messages they have received since Sheila became ill.

"We have a 12 hour rosary circle where one hundred people continuously pray. We've been doing that every day. The amount of people praying has been unreal and we just can't thank them enough."

And she added that a huge thank you needs to go to the dedicated staff at UHK.

"They have been fantastic."

Bed demand at UHK remains high

Demand for hospital bed capacity including Critical Care at University Hospital Kerry (UHK) remains high.

The necessary arrangements are in place at UHK to upscale Critical Care capacity should that become necessary.
“The hospital remains very busy caring for both COVID and non-COVID patients and the demand for hospital bed capacity including Critical Care is high," the HSE said in a statement this week.

"Critical Care Capacity in the South/South West Hospital Group (S/SWHG) is actively managed as a group resource; thereby ensuring patients always have access to the best possible care setting with inter-hospital transfer as required. Management at University Hospital Kerry is appealing to all members of the public to follow the most recent Government COVID-19 guidelines to help stop the spread.”