Critical coronavirus survivor thanks her ‘angels’

Even Kym Watkins’ doctor thought she would die. But with the help of GCUH staff, she became the first Queensland patient seriously ill with coronavirus to make a full recovery. This is her incredible story.

CORONAVIRUS survivor Kym Watkins couldn’t see her saviours beyond their masks and protective gear, but she knows the nurses and doctors worked tirelessly to keep her alive.

“I couldn’t see their faces, but they were my angels,” the Gold Coaster said.

“I feel so blessed, so grateful and so lucky. They are the greatest people on earth.”

Mrs Watkins, a retired Queensland Police officer, on Thursday became the state’s first patient with COVID-19 to be discharged after being ventilated, following her stay in the Intensive Care Unit of the Gold Coast University Hospital.

While she was unconscious, machines pumped air into her lungs for three days as she fought for her life.

“When I woke up again the doctor said to me ‘I thought you were going to die,’. I said oh, thanks for putting it into perspective,” Mrs Watkins said yesterday.

“That’s when I knew how serious it was.”

Mrs Watkins was admitted to hospital on March 25 after contracting coronavirus while on holiday in New York with her husband Grant.

Retired police officer Kym Watkins is applauded as she leaves GCUH after recovering from COVID-19.

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They had booked a cruise from New York to the Caribbean to holiday with friends, but on arrival in the US they learned the cruise had been cancelled – and that is when the symptoms began.

“I woke up with not a sore throat, more of a cloggy feeling – I had a fever and a bit of a cough,” Ms Watkins said.

“In the back of my mind I thought, maybe this is COVID, but it was still early then and neither of us wanted to think about that.”

The pair flew back from New York to the Gold Coast on March 15 and tested positive for the virus days later.

“It was surreal. Grant had a mild headache and a cough but I kept getting worse.”

Despite being healthy and fit, the 61-year-old’s appetite had decreased to nothing and her temperature rose to a point where they had to call an ambulance.

“I was telling my family, I’m not getting any better, but I am certainly not getting any worse – but by the time I was in the ambulance I wasn’t feeling well at all,’’ she said.

“It had hit me quite heavily.

“I didn’t think it was going to get as bad for me as it did.”

Retired Queensland Police officer Kym Watkins at Carrara apartment after being discharged from hospital. Picture: Jason O'Brien.

On arrival in the infectious ward at the GCUH, her condition deteriorated further.

“I was scared. I do remember telling my husband, it had hit me that maybe I wasn’t going to come out of this.

“It was not so much a feeling of not being able to breathe, it was that every time I moved I coughed – I tried to stay as still as I could.

“The coughing was the worst part.”

A few days in, drained of energy, doctors decided to move her into the ICU and placed her on breathing support.

She was intubated for three days until her symptoms subsided to a point where she could breathe on her own.

Ms Watkins is still in isolation but is so thankful for her treatment at Gold Coast University Hospital. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

“I was doubled over in the hospital bathroom trying to get my breath, and thought I don’t have enough energy for this and called for help,” she said.

“Three days later I woke up.”

The Carrara local said she knew she was feeling better when she began to feel hungry and bored.

“I lost six kilos in two weeks. It really hits your appetite,’’ she said.

“As hard as it was, not being able to see my family while I was in ICU was the hardest.

“They weren’t allowed to visit and I couldn't speak for the first few days after I woke up so phone calls didn’t work.”

Since heading home on Thursday, she is slowly rebuilding her strength.

Kym Watkins has started rebuilding her health. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

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Still in isolation with her husband and cat Dash, Mrs Watkins said she is thankful for the Gold Coast health team.

“For all those people who have lost family members, friends and loved ones who haven’t recovered, my sympathies go out to them,” she said.

Mrs Watkins said people needed to be reminded how serious the situation is.

“You can get hit very quick, it doesn't matter your race, your wealth, nationality, nothing.

“So we need to listen to what authorities are saying. If we weren’t self isolating as a country where would we be?

“We can’t let this spread any further.”