Hundreds celebrate hospital worker Ansel’s discharge after beating COVID-19
Hundreds of colleagues lined the corridors to celebrate the discharge of a Royal Derby Hospital worker who has been discharged after spending 61 days fighting COVID.
Cipriansel ‘Ansel’ Vicencio, a Clinical Support Worker in Phlebotomy at Royal Derby Hospital, received rapturous applause and cheers as he was leaving hospital for the for the first time since he tested positive for Coronavirus and was admitted to A&E on 15 May after his symptoms worsened.
Initially, he spent 10 days on Ward 404, a specialist respiratory ward, but his condition continued to deteriorate, and he was then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, where he spent 41 days.
However, he showed incredible fighting spirit and began to recover, before eventually leaving Intensive Care and returning to Ward 404, where he spent a further nine days.
But after a total of 61 days in hospital, Ansel, who has worked at Royal Derby Hospital for 14 years, was yesterday (15 July) reunited with his wife Sherry, who is a Sister on Day Case Surgery Unit at Royal Derby, and his daughter Arianne, who has just turned 18.
45-year-old Ansel, from Littleover, said: “It’s a wonderful thing and I’m really excited to be going home to see my children and be with my family again.
“I’m really, really pleased for the team because they cared for me a lot and provided me with the care that I needed. The doctors, the consultants, the nurses all worked together to bring me life.
“I can’t wait to go home with my sons and daughters; I’m just really looking forward to going home!”
Dr Magnus Harrison, Executive Medical Director and Deputy CEO, said: “It is wonderful to see Ansel go home after such a long time fighting COVID. It was an incredible send-off and was touching that so many friends and colleagues came out to wish him well. I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone at the Trust when I send Ansel and his family my best wishes for his recovery and beyond.
“I’d like to thank the continuing efforts of all of our teams at UHDB for making a difference to the lives of so many patients, and also to our partners across the health and social care system in Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Everyone has played a crucial role in ensuring that those who have been severely affected by the virus have been able to return home to their families and loved ones or their next place of care once they no longer require hospital treatment.”
Mike Goodwin, Division Director of Cancer, Diagnostics and Clinical Support, also sent his best wishes to Ansel and his family: “It was wonderful to see Ansel leave the hospital, after what has been an incredibly difficult time for him, his lovely wife Sherry, their family and friends. So many UHDB colleagues turned out to celebrate with him as he left for home and it just goes to show how loved and well regarded Ansel and Sherry are across the hospital community.
“Their bravery, love and strength has been amazing to witness and it was so special to see Ansel go home to start the next phase of his recovery.”
Lizzie Sidders, Senior Sister on Discharge Assessment Unit, said: “I’ve known Ansel for many years, so it was really touching to see him cheered home by so many. It’s so good to see him finally discharged home so he can be with his loved ones.
“We’d like to thank Derbyshire County Council who have offered a mini bus to take Ansel home today, as they have done throughout the pandemic, so thank you to Sue Kemp and Idris Morris who helped today and to everyone else who has helped in recent times.”
Captions:
1. Ansel celebrating with hundreds of colleagues at Royal Derby Hospital with (from left to right) daughter Arianne, Discharge Assessment Unit Sister Julie Bradshaw, Idris Morris of Derbyshire County Council and wife Sherry.
2. Ansel with his wife Sherry (left) and daughter Arianne (right)