A TEACHING assistant who gave birth during a five-month battle with Covid is on the road to recovery.

Laura Ward first had coronavirus symptoms, ‘a slight cough’, after her final day of term at Tyldesley Primary.

Heavily-pregnant, she was admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital after she began to struggle with her breathing.

And within weeks, the 33-year-old’s health had deteriorated to the extent that she doesn’t even recall giving consent for the Caesarean section which brought daughter Hope into the world at 31 weeks.

Hope was born weighing 3lb 7oz but, with the support of the neo-natal unit was soon up to a healthier 10lb 7oz.

But for Laura, her ordeal was just beginning, as her condition worsened, falling into a seven-week coma, which required her being transferred to Wythenshawe and Trafford General hospitals for specialist interventions.

Dad Bill, who welcomed home Laura yesterday with wife Lynn and the rest of the family, said: “We thought we were going to lose her.”

Emerging from her coma, Laura had to relearn basic skills like feeding herself and just brushing her teeth. Her battle to walk again took weeks.

Now Laura, of Manchester Road, Tyldesley, who has a three-year-old son, William, with partner John Leece, and stepsons Josh, 15, and 10-year-old Lexi, is slowly readjusting to life back home.

She told The Bolton News: “I’m just glad to be home now but I’m going to have to things slowly. John has been great and I don’t know what I would have done without him.

“I’ve seen the physiotherapist now and they have told me it’s better to walk before I can run.”

Laura also paid tribute to colleagues at Tyldesley Primary, who had been in constant contact during her ordeal.

“They have been great and kept in touch through everything. They were just so glad I was recovering as they had been besides themselves with worry,” she added.

A family party is planned after Christmas to properly welcome Laura home.