‘Lazarus’ pensioner (89) with other serious conditions wins Covid-19 battle

Ernie Long’s wife Patsy has dubbed her husband ‘Lazarus’ after he made full recovery from the coronavirus and returned safely to his home in Enniskillen.

However, the entire Long family had feared the worst just a few weeks ago when Ernie became unwell and was admitted to the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) in Enniskillen with double pneumonia and COPD. He also suffers from Parkinson’s.

Within two days of being admitted he was then told that he had tested positive for Covid-19.

Describing how he initially reacted to the bad news, Ernie said: “My first thoughts were shock and fear when I was told that I had the virus, but I accepted whatever would happen, would happen.”

Wife Patsy described her husband’s recovery as “wonderful and unbelievable,” and added: “Sometimes I didn’t see think I would see the day that he would come home.”

Speaking on a video produced by the Western Health Trust to celebrate Ernie’s recovery from Covid-19, he said: “I shouldn’t really be here.”

“Double pneumonia, Parkinson’s, COPD and Covid-19 – that should have been enough to see me off.

“I’m just like Lazarus, coming back from the dead.”

Ernie has been praising all of the NHS staff involved in his care including the SWAH, where he spent 15 days, and the Drumclay Transitional Care Home where he was given rehabilitation treatment.

“The staff in SWAH and Drumclay really went beyond the call of duty for me.

“You could never pay those who work in the NHS enough for what they do,” he said.

Speaking to the News Letter yesterday, the former postal officer with the Post Office said it was important to “never give up,” even in the darkest of hours.

“I knew there were prayer meetings for me taking place all over, and that meant an awful lot to me,” Ernie said.

“It gave me peace of mind, even if it wasn’t going to cure me, it gave me peace of mind. I didn’t worry about what was going to happen to me.

“One night one of the nurses sang to me ‘What a Friend we have in Jesus’ and that really lifted me up as well.”

Ernie’s granddaughter Jade Long said everyone was relieved to see him “looking fantastic,” and added: “Initially I didn’t think he would come out the other side.

“It’s really good to have him home.”