‘Sinister virus almost took my parents’ - Heckmondwike councillor

A councillor has honoured the NHS professionals who saved his parents’ lives during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Aafaq Butt, a Heckmondwike councillor, was at the heart of a devastating family crisis as both his mother and father contracted Covid-19 and were hospitalised at Pinderfields, in Wakefield.

His mother was on a ventilator – and he and other relatives were forced to acknowledge Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s warning that many families were ‘going to lose loved ones before their time’.

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In a powerful address to the first virtual meeting of full council, Councillor Butt said: “No-one can truly understand how it feels when you speak to a doctor for them to tell you that, because this is a new condition, they cannot offer any words of advice from previous experiences but are working as hard as possible.

Heckmondwike councillor, Aafaq ButtHeckmondwike councillor, Aafaq Butt
Heckmondwike councillor, Aafaq Butt

“It was only when my mum’s condition deteriorated and [she] was moved to intensive care for mechanical ventilation that the stark reality dawned upon us: that this wasn’t something to ignore.

“It wasn’t flu. It was something more sinister, something that attacked one of the vital bodily functions – the respiratory system, which eventually stops working because of the pneumonia.”

The impact of the health emergency meant coun Butt and his family were forced to endure ‘one of the hardest times we have ever had to face’ via the restrictions imposed by lockdown, relying on phone calls.

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He said: “Thankfully we had something to hold onto, the fact my parents had no long-term health conditions, which would eventually be a determining factor in whether they made it through or not.

“Luckily both made it out of hospital and are now on the road to recovery. For that, we are eternally grateful to the wonderful staff at Pinderfields who made this happen.

“It cements again the commitment and dedication NHS staff have towards patient care.”

He thanked organisations such as the Magic Wishing Well in Liversedge, Batley-based charity Purpose of Life, Bramwell Associates, Dewsbury’s Moonlight Trust, the More in Common volunteer group and Batley Food Bank as well that ‘stepped up’ during the pandemic.