Author Michael Rosen was left emotional as he was presented with a new version of a nurses’ diary from when he was in a coma.
The celebrated children’s writer, 77, who is behind such classics as We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, contracted Covid-19 in March 2020 and was in an induced coma for eight weeks.
Having been told he would have only a 50/50 chance of survival, Michael miraculously woke up after hearing a recording of his children, and went on to recover.
He appeared on The Repair Shop’s NHS Special on Wednesday night where he revealed he had kept a nurses’ diary of his time in the coma, where each day whoever was taking care of him left him letters on how he was doing.
One such entry, from nurse Wincy, read: ‘You celebrated your birthday with us today, I wished for your speedy recovery.
‘I cannot wait for the day you go home with your family. You take good care Michael, it’s been a privilege to look after you. May you continue to inspire everyone you meet.’
The diaries, which the author has read many times, were beginning to fall apart – and the writer said it was ‘very sad it could all fall apart,’ pleading for help to make them stronger.
Michael also had with him some get well soon cards sent to him by children while he was in his coma – and hoped the Repair Shop experts would find a way to ‘bind them together’ so he could ‘live with them.’
Later, when shown the finished product, Michael became visibly emotional, muttering: ‘Oh my goodness, oh dear.’
‘It’s just wonderful,’ he said, describing it as ‘amazing.’
He read out another letter from a child who was battling cancer while he was in his coma, becoming shiny-eyed and later having to rub his face as he admitted he was becoming ‘overwhelmed.’
Tears shone on his face as he was supported by his daughter,sharing his love for the ‘wonderful’ NHS for saving his life and the lives of countless others since its inception 75 years ago.
He said he planned to take the newly-restored scrapbook and diary to Whittington hospital, which saved his life, to show them.
The scrapbook of children’s letters was covered in NHS blue, and decorated with a rainbow, reminiscent of children’s drawings of gratitude to the NHS throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier in the show the Children’s Laureate had paid tribute to all those who had worked in the NHS at the height of the pandemic, noting: ‘Some of them died. We have to remember that.
‘Some of them nurses and helpers died. These people saved my life.’
His experience sparked the idea for his latest project, the book Getting Better, which details not only his recovery from this serious health scare, but the role trauma and grief have played throughout his life, including the death of his 18-year-old son Eddie to meningitis in 1999.
The Repair Shop airs Wednesdays at 8pm on BBC One
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