THE family of an 87-year-old woman who survived Covid-19 have told how they been left devastated by her sudden death following a bleed on the brain.
Phyllis McDaniel, who lived in Cavendish Street off the Falls Road in west Belfast, died on Monday at the nearby Royal Victoria Hospital.
The mother-of-two had received a standing ovation when she left hospital in April after surviving coronavirus.
Her family last night said she would be remembered as someone who "touched a lot of people's lives".
Diagnosed with renal failure seven years ago, the west Belfast pensioner had since attended dialysis every other day at the City Hospital.
Five years ago she also learned she had myeloma, a form of blood cancer, and underwent treatment.
In April this year, after suffering a heightened temperature, the grandmother was admitted to the City Hospital with Covid-19.
During a week-long battle her heart stopped a "few times" and relatives were told at one point to say their goodbyes, before she recovered and was discharged to claps and cheers from medical staff.
Last Thursday she suffered a minor trip at home and on Saturday was sent to the Royal Victoria Hospital for a check-up.
On Sunday doctors asked if she could stay another night to see a physio the next morning.
The 87-year-old suffered a bleed on the brain in the early hours of Monday and died peacefully later that morning with her son, HM, by her bedside.
Her daughter Fiona McDaniel said she was a "real fighter".
"She believed in being positive and it helped her overcome a lot of illness and adversity,” she said.
"She loved the people who cared for her deeply. Neighbours, nurses and carers became part of her family.
"Some of our family called her a Wonder Woman. She really did overcome health adversities from a very early age. She had TB when she was young and was in and out of hospital for a long time."
The mother-of-one said some people feared the worst when her mum got Covid-19.
"We definitely thought it was all over. There was no way she could survive," she said.
"She only recovered because of the care she received. The staff at the City Hospital became part of my mum's family.
"She was one of the oldest in the ward and had survived. There would have been no funeral, no family access to hospital. My mum's worst fear would have been dying alone and thankfully this week it didn’t happen like that.
"The shock of it for us is that she passed so quickly."
Fiona said her mother, whose husband Hilary died 11 months ago, was someone who "loved life".
"She was very bubbly," she said.
"She was a fantastic mum and always very happy. She absolutely adored my daddy - they were happy their whole life. She loved being around people and her house was always open to everyone.
"From a very early age she was a very maternal. She looked after everybody. She loved to look after her appearance, her lovely hair and how she looked."
She added: "We are feeling a great sense of shock and loss by my mum's passing.
"She is somebody that had a huge heart and a huge warmth.
"We are devastated she is gone".
