AN 86-YEAR-OLD woman received a guard of honour from hospital staff and her family as she was discharged from hospital after beating the dreaded coronavirus.
Dublin grandmother Barbara Holmes was released from St Colmcille's Hospital in Loughlinstown, Dublin, yesterday afternoon, and was met by the cheering and clapping of her beloved family members and health care staff who helped look after her while she was recovering in hospital.
Her grandson Ruaidhrí spoke to RTÉ News and said that his gran recovering from the virus at the age of 86 was "very special" and the guard of honour was "well deserved".
"She looked well and seemed in good form," Ruaidhrí told the outlet. "It just shows people that there is hope at the end of it and that it's not all going to end badly."
Barbara Holmes, 86, is discharged from St Colmcilles Hospital after recovering from Covid-19 (RTÉ / Philip Bromwell)Acknowledging that many families had suffered losses from the pandemic, Ruaidhrí went on to say that Barbara's recovery "shows that there is hope and families in the same situation do have something to hold on to."
Barbara's granddaughter Jessie Cawley watched the guard of honour all the way from Australia as another family member recorded the scene from their phone, and called the occassion "brilliant" and "a sigh of relief".
The Dublin woman is now safely home in Beechfield Manor Nursing Home in Swords, where she will continue her recovery and be ready to be greeted by her extended family once the lockdown restrictions have ended.
RTÉ News video journalist Philip Bromwell was present to capture the joyous moment Barbara was discharged from hospital-- you can check it out below.
Congratulations and well done, Barbara Holmes!
Privileged to film the special moment when 86-year-old grandmother Barbara Holmes left hospital in Dublin after beating #COVID19 👏👏👏pic.twitter.com/4u75IQg7hP
— Philip Bromwell (@philipbromwell) April 27, 2020
