‘Our colleagues died from Covid 19': doctor describes coronavirus battle | NHS Everyday Heroes

As part of our Evening Standard Everyday Heroes project we interviewed and photographed seven front line NHS workers involved in the fight against Covid 19.

During the weekly clap for the NHS, Suhier Elshowaya would give the children who live on her road sweets and chocolates. ‘I’d tell them the NHS thanks you too,’ she says. ‘It was such a nice, friendly event.’

Her mother called from Sudan every day to check on her. ‘I have been very careful. Before I leave the hospital I change my clothes and have a shower then when I come home I change everything again, including my shoes – I leave them outside. As it went on, we were not terrified, we were not anxious, we were exhausted.’

‘My colleagues and I felt very tearful, especially when we had sick young patients deteriorating in front of our eyes. But every patient we lost regardless of their age made us very sad.’

A doctor friend of hers in his sixties at a hospital in the Midlands died of Coronavirus. ‘I cried when I heard. It has been devastating. But I have to continue doing my job with pride and helping people. Being a doctor is the job I always wanted to do.’