A YouTuber from High Wycombe who fell seriously ill with Covid-19 while pregnant has been reunited with her "angel" student nurse in an emotional podcast reflecting on her journey to recovery. 

Garce Victory caught Covid-19 in late 2020 while heavily pregnant and was put into a coma on Christmas Day the day after giving birth to her son, Cyprus, two months prematurely.

Grace was given only a five per cent chance of survival and, despite suffering multiple organ failures and cardiac arrest when doctors tried to bring her out of the coma early, Grace finally woke up on March 8 last year and was reunited with Cyprus, who was then aged 10 weeks old.

Due to muscle wastage and weakness, Grace was moved to Alderbourne Rehabilitation Unit, within The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where she met 19-year old Bucks New University first-year student nurse, Alice Finnigan, who was on placement.

The pair formed a special bond with Grace describing the student nurse as her “angel” and attributing her recovery to the student nurse’s positivity and excellent care.

Grace, who is now fit and healthy and enjoying family life, was ecstatic to see Alice again for the Bucks New University podcast, and she reiterated the incredible impact Alice has had on her life.

When asked what was so special about Alice, Grace said: “Alice just knew what she was doing. The physical care was top notch for me, but Alice is also so full of joy.

"There was this little ray of sunshine coming through in the mornings. The weekends used to drag when Alice wasn’t there. Other nurses should look to Alice as an example.”

Alice added: “From the moment Grace came in, I was gobsmacked at how young she was.

"Being on placement during the pandemic was incredibly tough. It was all new and we weren’t hearing about this side of Covid– long Covid– on the news and it hit hard.

"I wanted to give it all I had, and I just tried to make her smile every day. I told her ‘you are going to walk’ and she replied, ‘I hope so’.

"I said to her, ‘there’s no hoping, you will’. And here she is now.”

Discussing the profession, Grace could not believe that student nurses are not paid.

She said: “In my experience, student nurses are the best. Every time Alice was on a shift, the world was a better place. [She is the] most incredible nurse ever.”

Alice discussed the year she has left at university and how her experience with Grace has inspired her to pursue rehabilitation once she is qualified.

Asked what she would say to those considering studying nursing she said: “Do it. It’s so good. I have made friendships and the staff are really helpful.

"The course is really good, you can understand what’s going on. I’ve seen different sides of nursing, and seeing Grace’s care as well, it really opened my eyes. There’s still so much out there for me to see.”

For Grace, she is keen to work with the NHS and give hope to patients in intensive care units, while her son Cyprus will be starting nursery this September.