Jo Whiley: Sister’s ‘huge thank you’ in Covid fighton February 23, 2021 at 7:44 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

The DJ posts a video of her sister Frances giving a thumbs-up and a round of applause.

Jo Whiley with her sister Frances (left)

image copyrightShutterstock

DJ Jo Whiley has said her sister Frances “would like to say a huge thank you” to everybody who has helped her after she contracted coronavirus.

The BBC Radio 2 presenter’s sister, who has a learning disability and diabetes, was taken to hospital after an outbreak at her Northamptonshire care home.

Whiley said her family had gone from discussing palliative care last week to “drinking cups of tea” with her sister.

“It doesn’t end here though,” the broadcaster posted on Twitter.

She added: “Covid has brought with it further complications.

“We’re now dealing with worrying diabetes and high blood pressure issues, and my parents are exhausted beyond belief.

“It’s so hard observing from behind a visor and mask, helpless doesn’t cover it.”

Whiley also posted a video of Frances, 53, giving a thumbs-up and a round of applause.

She said her sister “would like to say a huge thank you to everybody who has helped her, especially the amazing doctors and nurses of the NHS, and her many MANY well-wishers.”

The DJ said it was “hard to believe” that they had been discussing palliative care on Friday night but were now able to sit on her sister’s “favourite bench drinking cups of tea”.

She renewed her call for people with learning disabilities to be prioritised in the vaccine rollout.

“Not everyone has been as lucky as us,” she said.

“So many have died or are suffering from long Covid because simply they were not protected.

“We need to show them that they are not forgotten, and we care.”

Whiley previously questioned why she was offered the vaccine before her sister, who has the rare genetic syndrome Cri du Chat.

People with diabetes and those with a “severe or profound” learning disability are in priority group six for the coronavirus vaccine, along with unpaid carers for those with disabilities and the elderly.

The Department of Health previously said the NHS was “working hard to vaccinate those most at risk, as quickly as possible”.

presentational grey line

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

BBC Breakfast forced off air early by fire alarmon March 26, 2022 at 12:00 pm

Roger Johnson and Rachel Burden were interviewing The Apprentice winner Harpreet Kaur at the time.

World Cup 2022: Spain’s Gavi becomes youngest World Cup scorer since Pele with goal against Costa Ricaon November 23, 2022 at 5:58 pm

Spain 18-year-old Gavi becomes the youngest goalscorer at a World Cup since Pele in 1958 with a stunning strike during their 7-0 win against...

Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder to fight on same card in Saudi Arabiaon November 15, 2023 at 6:07 pm

Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder will fight separate opponents on the same night as part of a stacked card on 23 December in Riyadh,...

Ulez: 171 reports of vandalised cameras logged by Met Police in two weekson September 1, 2023 at 1:16 pm

The total number of crime reports relating to Ulez cameras is now over 500, the Met Police says.Image source, PA MediaBy Yasmin RufoBBC NewsThere...

Finland to apply for Nato membership ‘without delay’on May 12, 2022 at 8:22 am

Russia has threatened unspecified measures if the country abandons its policy of military non-alignment.Image source, ReutersFinland's president and prime minister have called for the...