Coronavirus: Girl, 4, with 11 heart conditions at ‘real threat’ from COVID-19

For parents with seriously ill children, the fear of coronavirus consumes every moment of every day.

Four-year-old Sophia Marshall has 11 heart conditions which will limit her life.

Her parents have decided to shield the entire family to prevent anyone bringing the virus into their home in Wychbold in Worcestershire.

“I’m so fearful,” her mother Chantelle told Sky News.

“There’s the real threat that we could potentially lose our daughter to COVID-19 which is just unbearable to think about.

“We can no longer just pop to the shops or go and get Sophia a loaf of bread and some milk for her breakfast. We’re now staying at home for the next 12 weeks or longer.”

England’s deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries warned on Sunday it could be six months or more before the UK gets back to normal.

Fortunately Sophia is too young to understand the danger.

Her father, Sam, works for the bereavement service at the local hospital but is currently able to work from home. If he did need to go into work, he would have to isolate from Sophia for two weeks.

The family are supported by Acorns Children’s Hospice which has three hospices in the West Midlands providing respite for families and support for children with life-limiting illnesses.

But Sophia and her family cannot risk going to the hospice and have even been advised to cancel home visits from nurses, who carry out regular check-ups on Sophia in case they are unknowingly carrying the virus.

Because so many families are being forced to isolate in their homes, the hospice in Birmingham is now empty and staff have taken the decision to clear the rooms and hand the building over to the NHS for treatment of coronavirus patients.

All the teddies and toys for the children have been put away as they prepare for the arrival of patients of all ages.

“It could be for adult patients but we really don’t know. It’s about being flexible and open to what is needed by the wider health economy,” said the hospice’s director of care, Emma Aspinall.

Overlooking the gardens is the bereavement suite. There are special, cold bedrooms for children who have passed away. A place for families to spend time with their child before the funeral.

“Sadly rooms like this are going to be needed over the coming weeks and months. We estimate we could get three or four beds in if that’s going to be necessary.”

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The Acorns hospice in Walsall is preparing to care for children with complex needs who are currently in hospitals but need to be moved from wards where there’s a risk of contracting coronavirus.

The hospice staff are used to helping families through their darkest days.

They know their skills are likely to be needed in the weeks to come.

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Girl, 4, with 11 heart conditions at ‘real threat’ from COVID-19