Reuniting Davy with those who saved his life

Hi I’m Helen and on 15th April 2023 I marry my bestest friend. Nothing unusual in that, I know, however in February 2021 it did not look like he would survive covid. Here’s our story….

Davy Duncan (60) was a saturation diver with Subsea 7 and in February 2021 went to Mexico to work. He provided neg pcr to travel and another to board ship, as well as strict fitness test, given nature of work.

A week after joining ship, day after his 59th birthday, he tested positive for covid.

He was isolated on ship and days later (due to winds and helicopter not able to land) he was flown off to be treated.

He went downhill rapidly and was put in induced coma and moved from a small hospital in Playa de Carmen to a hospital in Villahermosa where I flew out to join him.

When he arrived at the hospital he was so poorly he was not expected to pull through. When he pulled through the first night, he was given 5 days. He had multiple organ failure and in a bad way.

He pulled through the 5 days and surprised them. As he started to improve and slowly taken from coma, weeks later, he suffered numerous strokes. Things looked bleak again. I learned, through Google translate due to language barrier, on a hospital workers phone, about the strokes as no one could translate to English. Again in Google translate I was told how bleak it was.

He needed blood and unlike the U.K. you had to go buy it from blood banks. Sadly he is a rare blood group. My most surreal time was being driven around city looking for blood for Davy. Even the supermarket bosses were asked to ask their staff! Due to covid the blood banks had little stock as people were not donating.

I was in a city deemed ‘dangerous’ as it was outwith the tourist area, alone, but was lucky enough to be in a hotel whose staff took me under their wing. One receptionist who was able to speak fluent English/Spanish helped immensely due to compassion of the hotel manager when they learned what was happening just after the strokes. Along with local taxi driver who was intent on helping in anyway he could.

The hotel manager put together a city wide campaign for blood using his contacts in city hotels, army and police. 3 people turned up from army and police to donate at the final stage.

Once fit enough to travel, 2 months later, we were flown by air ambulance to Inverness where he remained in icu for a short time.

Overall he was in icu for about 3 months. With a huge list of issues - myopathy, neuropathy, aphasia etc accompanying him out of the unit.

He then went to hdu and then ward 2a for rehab. I travelled 140 mile round trip daily for 6 months to be with him and was his carer for most of this time in the hospital.

He was transferred to local hospital 6 months later to Fort William where we live.

He then started to have epilepsy. A few tonic clinic seizures set him back over the 6 months there and is on meds to control it.

Discharged from hospital 21st March 2022 he is home with me and we are camping in our sitting room due to red tape and lack of support to adapt the house! But we are here and couldn’t be happier.

Davy is so determined and motivated, he is adamant he will dance at our wedding in 15th April 2023

Prior to covid Davy was super fit - trail running, cycling, hill running, wild swimming, waterfall diver etc etc shark swimmer! (Search YouTube for ‘fulmar shark’! Only a Scotsman would tell a shark who hit his head to ‘f**k off’!) Davy has no fear!

Davy has asked to do the grey corries. A mountain range close to Fort William of 4 Munro’s.

A charity, Equal Adventure, based in Grantown on Spey will help with accessible chair suitable for mountain terrain and a huge response from volunteer hill runners/walkers across the country has poured in.

Davy has helped many with their dreams in Lochaber mountains and many want to repay their thanks. Sadly he will not be able to do this challenge until after the wedding due to winter weather now!

It is hoped to set up this fundraiser to bring over our Mexican ‘family’ who saved Davys life and looked after me, to the wedding on 15th April 2023. People who put strangers first but could never afford the travel.

This includes the doctor, Rafael, who looked after him from when he was taken off the ship.

The doctor , Dr Louis, who saved his life In Villahermosa. He calls Davy his miracle as he was not expected to pull through. He only took a couple of days off in the 2 months, for his father in laws funeral. He insisted his patients needed him. For which we are grateful.

The physio, Jose Carlos, who worked on him daily to keep his muscles moving, playing Davys favourite rock music and putting a smile on Davys face.

The hotel receptionist, Fernando, who gave up his time to translate daily, even on his days off. Also to travel around the city to translate at blood banks.

The taxi driver, Chico, who went above and beyond to look after me and get me to and from hospital, to blood banks and get essential shopping for Davy.

The hotel manager, Francisco, who gave his staff time off to help. Telling the staff ‘anything that man needs, we will help’. He also organised large campaign to get his blood, which proved successful.

The breakfast waiter, Rafael, who tried hard to teach me Spanish each day after catching up on Davys condition. He was like a dad each day, looking out for me and nagging me to eat more!

The gorgeous nurse, Irma, who was so full of energy and always fussed over him! She danced at the opposite side of the bed to me when he started moving his left leg! Congratulating him.

It would be great to have them, even better with their partners, here to celebrate and thank them for their role in getting us here today. Without them Davy would not be here and we would not be getting married!

Locals in fort william have offered some free accommodation for them, will still need more if anyone can help. We just need to get them here. Anyone with airline connections who can get a great deal on flights would also be appreciated!

Davy has a smile to light up any room it’s said. He is so motivated and determined I have no doubt he will accomplish his challenge of the Grey Corries, and every other challenge he sets. Davy has never asked ‘why me?’ , he smiles and gets on with it.

We are currently putting together a book about our adventures in Mexico and beyond. Covid, crocodiles, care and compassion all feature in the chapters.

Thank you for reading and thank you for any help you can offer.

Helen and Davy

Xxx