Christmas Day 2020 our whole family tested positive for Covid-19, including our 2 year old and our 7 month old baby.

The next week was a nightmare managing two sick children, especially as our baby was struggling to breathe and coughing persistently.

Mark retired to bed for a week saying he felt like he was breathing through a straw. It was a really scary time and needless to say, New Years Eve was not one to remember!

On 2 January Mark was taken by ambulance to hospital and spent 6 days in the Guildford ward. We were not allowed to visit and he couldn't speak as he was too breathless and was put on a C-PAP machine to help him breathe.

Mark didn't improve and he was moved to ICU. On the morning of 8 January the consultant called me and i will never forget the phone call. They were placing Mark in an induced coma and the chances were he would not survive but they had told him it would only be for a few days. I was to Facetime him now to say goodbye but I could not let him know that this was likely to be the end.

I Facetimed Mark with our children. He doesn't remember the call to this day, and I'm glad as it was the worst moment of my life. The children were screaming and crying, Daddy didn't look good and was too oxygen deprived to speak to them, with tubes and staff everywhere.

I hung up and broke down. I was alone with two small children and all I could think was that my sons might not remember their Daddy.

Over the next 9 weeks Mark almost died 6 times and each time I was called in to say goodbye. I was the only one allowed in and I saw things I never want to see again and I could not believe that the staff were operating daily in something I could only describe as something from a horror film.

Every time I had to visit they had brushed his hair, given him a shave, gave me a hug (a hug with both huggers in a full haz mat suit was a new experience for me) and supported me. It made such a difference that I felt supported as I tried to say goodbye to Mark, each time it happened.

Eventually, after many close calls, Mark was woken up from his coma and I had to tell him that it had not been 3 days but just over 2 months he'd been gone. He'd missed so much, our youngest's first steps, first words and he was worried they wouldn't remember him.

I'm pleased to report that the kids remembered daddy and gave him the biggest cuddle when they saw him in Costa when he was finally taken out of ICU. Their first meeting was made super special by a lovely Nurse buying the children some sweets from the M&S for Mark to give to them. This was one of my favourite things throughout that time. I saw the best things about humanity and compassion during that time from all the staff I came into contact with.

I was diagnosed with PTSD after Mark was discharged from hospital and we've all struggled a lot, but I know we are so lucky and others did not get away with their family intact. I cannot thank all the wonderful staff enough for everything they did for me, my children and Mark, even though they must have been at the very limits of their professional and personal capabilities.

Doing this challenge is my way of saying thank you and attempting to close the chapter for our family so we can make up for the lost time! It's been like climbing a mountain so I thought I'd climb three in 24 hours! Millie Bushill