Delirium Daze

Is the COVID-19 pandemic now a distant memory, and did you wonder what all the fuss was about? It was life-changing for Allen Yates and his family, a story that they will never forget..

During the height of the pandemic, Allen Yates contracted a life-threatening COVID-19 infection, leading to him spending 102 days in hospital, 68 of them in intensive care and half on a ventilator in an induced coma. During that time, Allen experienced many bouts of delirium, vividly blending the reality of what was happening around him with his body’s fight against the virus.

At the same time, his sister Jackie was rooted in the harsh realities of his life-threatening illness and a national lockdown; she juggled being his medical advocate, the leading information point for an extended family and the matriarch of her own family.

This fascinating book takes us on two parallel narratives through the time between Allen’s admission and his release from the hospital. One is a vivid, fantastical story based on Allen's notes during his lucid periods and recovery time; the other is Jackie’s detailed diary of what the medical team told her and what she saw during her visits.

This intensely personal story of someone fighting to live and someone who can only watch a loved one battle back to health goes beyond the pandemic. This book is about survival, hope and the strength of family in the face of life-threatening illness.

All proceeds from the book will go to the Wythenshawe Hospital and the teams that saved Allen's life.