Corby goes green for smiling Grady-Finn as he battles Covid-19
and live on Freeview channel 276
A Corby teenager who was diagnosed with the deadly coronavirus is recovering in Kettering General Hospital (KGH) and still smiling, according to his mum.
Grady-Finn Stevenson, known as 'Smiler' to his family, had been admitted to Skylark Ward with what his mum thought was just 'another' chest infection.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHowever, when the results came back two days later the swab, that been taken on admission, revealed that Grady-Finn, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, had tested positive for Covid-19.
Mum Lindsay Ingram said: "It's been a horror story but we're getting there. He's had his moments when he's been happy and smiling. Generally, he's been his happy, smiling self."
Grady-Finn, a student at Corby Business Academy, and his 12-year-old sister Willow-Poppy, who attends Corby Technical School, were kept home from March 16 to self-isolate by parents Lindsay and Patrick.
Lindsay, 42, said: "When we first heard about it [coronavirus] and people were getting it closer and closer, we took him out of school.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"He has breathing problems and a chest problem so we just thought he had a normal chest infection or a virus.
"When we got to hospital (March 23) he was tested just to be on the safe side.
"The two weeks previous we had been in self-isolation.
"We were convinced that he wouldn't have it because we thought if he got it he wouldn't come out great.
"All the horror stories go through your head - is he going to get through this?"
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdLindsay and husband Patrick, 40, have been taking turns on a 24-hour vigil at Grady-Finn's bedside in his own private room.
Lindsay said: "We've been with him the whole time. We wouldn't let him be on his own, we would never let him be frightened.
"His breathing was quite fast and when he gets a virus he starts to breathe quite rapidly, which is nothing more than we would normally expect but he had a higher than normal temperature.
"We sat for two days convincing ourselves he hadn't got it. We've stayed positive and hoped for the best and luckily we've been getting through the worst of it.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"He's quite tired and worn out. He had a day off the oxygen, he's had some antibiotics and he's been on a nebuliser but there's nothing they can give him to treat it. Luckily enough he's slowly getting there."
While her parents have been busy with her brother, Willow-Poppy has created a support group for her brother called Grady's Green Hearts where friends, family and supporters from across the world have been posting messages.
Willow-Poppy, a Corby Junior Carnival Princess, chose Grady-Finn's favourite colour green for the hearts, the same colour his favourite football team, Celtic plays in.
Lindsay said: "It's been absolutely crazy. She only put in on to send a couple of green hearts. We had no idea it would go the way it did.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"It's been a nice thing to see the messages and amazing to know that people are thinking, praying and sending nice thoughts to us from thousands of strangers."
The devoted siblings have been keeping in touch using FaceTime.
Lindsay said: "Willow-Poppy has not been able to see him so we've been FaceTiming. She's not been able to give him hugs. They are so close and missing each other.
"We're so proud of her. She's always doing nice things for Grady."
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdShe added: "We're trying not to think of the worst. If you go down that road it's a dark place. We're taking it day by day. There's no point crying about it.
"People need to see the good side of this. People are coming through. If there wasn't someone who was going to get through this then it would be Grady, but he's got through.
"Thanks to everybody who has sent us messages and supported us. It's been lighting-up his face with all the messages."
A message from the Editor: Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIn order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper when you do your weekly shop.
Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.
With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.
Thank you