Mum of three Fiona Macdonald was just 47, fit and healthy, when she fell ill and was rushed to Ninewells the week before the first Covid lockdown.
Sadly, despite the best efforts of ICU staff at Ninewells Hospital, and having no underlying health conditions, Fiona died of Covid four weeks later.
Now two years on, Fiona’s husband John and family, from Blairgowrie, are marking what would have been her 49th birthday with a large donation to Ninewells, to support other patients, staff and families going through challenging times.
Fiona was mum to Jacquelyne, 29, Lauren, 26, and Scott, 19 and she worked as a pupil support assistant, at Hill Primary School in Blairgowrie.
A love of walking has been a lifeline for John through his grief – and it also led to the fundraising efforts for Ninewells.
John, a contracts manager for JB Corrie Fencing, explains: “It sounds like a cliche but walking really helps me clear my mind.
‘Outstanding care’
“Those days when you think, ‘Why has this happened to me?’, or have doubts, it helps just to get outside. You have good days and bad days.
“I have close friends and good support. But the walking focused my mind, specially through lockdown.”
He and friends from 732 Alyth St Ninian’s Masonic Lodge began training to walk the West Highland Way, with a target of raising £1,000 for staff who delivered ‘outstanding care’ to Fiona.
Smashing the target
After a gruelling five days completing the route last year, they’ve smashed the target. And have now presented a cheque for £15,500 to the ICU at Ninewells.
Not much was known about Covid when Fiona was taken in to hospital.
“Fiona came from home from work with a cold on the Monday,” John says. “We thought it was a flu coming on.
“There wasn’t that much information about Covid at that time.
“Fiona was upstairs and called for me. She’d collapsed and we called the ambulance. She developed pneumonia.
“She went into hospital on April 18 and Covid was diagnosed a week later.
“We went into the first lockdown the Monday after she went in. By that time, unfortunately, she was in intensive care.
“Sadly, Fiona’s condition deteriorated, and she developed blood clots that required surgery.
“Following the surgery Fiona became more ill and we were called in to say our goodbyes, four weeks after she was admitted to ICU.”
Loved by everyone she met
“It was difficult seeing people not understanding the effects of Covid or not following the measures or being vaccinated. It has never affected them so they don’t understand.
“We’ve had to be very careful because my daughter Jacquelyne had a liver transplant in 2019, so has a compromised immune system.”
“But I’m overwhelmed by the fundraising efforts – it is really a response to the person that Fiona was. She was loved by everyone she met.
“She was the most important part of our family and put being a mum and wife before anything else.”
John says the walk is one of the hardest things he has ever done: “But it was also one of the best things. I wanted to do it for Fiona, for myself, for my kids and the guys who organised it, that pushed me on.
Happy place
“Walking is my happy place now – when you’re away at the top of a Munro or a hill, it’s the quiet that helps your troubles or worries seem to seep away.
“I’m walking 20 miles a week and have now started Munro-bagging too – I’m up to 28 now. It does help with mental health and gives a focus.
“It’s also great to be able to say thank you and treat the staff at ICU Ninewells.
“Some of the funds I asked to go directly to the staff so they can spend on what they want. The rest will help other people going through difficult times.”
Tayside Health Fund spokesperson Richard McIntosh said: “On behalf of the fund, I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who donated.
“We are touched and delighted by this incredible donation – funds will be put to excellent use in supporting staff working in NHS Tayside’s ICU.”
