‘Welcome Home Mum, Our Hero’ great gran who beat Covid-19

Rena Barr with youngest great-grandchild Max.

Rena Barr caught coronavirus in Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow, where she was being treated for a broken arm.

Nurses on the coronavirus ward took such a shine to her that they had hoped to celebrate her birthday with her - but instead great-gran-of-16 celebrated her 88th birthday on April 19, the day after being moved to another unit.

Medics set up a Zoom meeting for Rena's family to see her on her birthday - but she will be welcomed home in Parkhead, Glasgow, tomorrow [Weds] by friends, relatives and neighbours practising social distancing.

Banner made for Rena Barr who recovered from coronavirus.

A special banner has been made reading 'Welcome Home Mum, Our Hero'.

Her daughter, Sandra, 51, said: "The nurses from Gartnavel set up a Zoom meeting for all of us to share my mum's birthday through that, but we haven't had a party for her.

"We are getting together on Thursday at her house, social distancing of course, to welcome her home but that will be that.

"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."

Rena has eight children, and 16 grandchildren.

Sandra and her sister, Patty Nelson, 55, brought a cake to the hospital for Rena.Community worker 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."The grandkids are all delighted she is coming home and can't wait even just to be able to FaceTime her.

"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 everyone sang Happy Birthday.

"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."

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