A Mumbai-based techie who tested positive for coronavirus along with his wife and toddler daughter has now recovered along with the entire family.
Recovering from the fever after 18 days, the Mumbai resident recalls how it was the most difficult time in his life as his young daughter was also suffering from the virus which has killed over 40,000 people across the world.
Speaking to India Today TV, the recovered man says he went to the US in the mid-February. On March 6 he returned to Mumbai and was checked at the airport’s screening facility but there were no symptoms.
He says, “After a few days on March 8 I had fever symptoms but I thought it is because I had traveled so much. So I just took a paracetamol. However the fever was still there so next day on Holi I went to my local physician. I only had fever and was given medicine for fever. On the second day of Holi there was no fever at all and I was fine. I decided to take rest.
However, the next day when I went of office where the environment is cool, within two hours I started showing symptoms of high fever, dry throat and was also unable to breath. All of this happened in an hour. All the symptoms started at once. I immediately came home and consulted my physician. He said that all symptoms point to coronavirus, recalls the IT professional.
After suspecting he might have coronavirus, the doctor immediately contacted the corporation office and they took him to the Kasturba Hospital in an ambulance.The 37-years-old techie further adds, “At Kasturba Hospital my travel history was checked and they admitted me for testing. After 24 hours, the results were out I was tested positive for coronavirus. Soon after the corporation officials brought my wife, both daughters (3 and 7 years old) to Kasturba Hospital for testing.
This was a very difficult time. After a day the results were out and shockingly my wife and just my younger daughter tested positive for coronavirus. This was the most difficult time in my life. I could see my wife and my child catching this deadly virus because of me. I was in a lot of stress,” he says.
The whole family was admitted to Kasturba Hospital. Speaking to India Today, the young father says, “Good thing was that I was still able to see my family and this gave me emotional support. It was still very difficult.”
However, on March 19 his condition deteriorated. He was put on ventilator support. Doctors at Kasturba Hospital and Jaslok decided to shift him to Jaslok. The very next day on March 20 he was shifted to Jaslok.
For next six days he was on ventilator support at Jaslok hospital. He says, “After 18 days on March 31 I was discharged. My wife was discharged a day before. My daughter was out in ten days.”
The total cost of treatment at Jaslok hospital was Rs 12 lakh. While the hospital administration gave him a concession of Rs 2.5 lakh, the rest was paid from his insurance and his office.
In a message to those who are living in fear of the virus, the recovered man said there is nothing to be afraid of and fear will be detrimental.
He also said that both the government and private hospitals are taking good care of the patients and there is no need to panic.
Just be fearless, coronavirus won’t come near you. Keep eating healthy to make your immune system strong. Eating healthy and no tension is key to fight against coronavirus.”
He says both his wife and he were under a lot of stress about the whole situation and they took time to recover while their daughter who was oblivious to the crisis, recovered faster.
Dr Om Srivastava, Jaslok hospital, who treated the techie said, “When he came to Jaslok hospital he was on ventilator, he was not able to breath. We treated him and now he is back home. Initially the situation looked grim but he responded well. I want to tell people not to panic. Consult your doctor and get treated. We can fight coronavirus and get cured. Do not waste time moving around and immediately consult doctors when you get the symptoms.”
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