Papa! Papa! Are you Ok?
Are you breathing properly? No issues with the breathing no!!! You can breathe no???
Papa, say something. open the door. Let me see you. Nothing will happen to us.
Please open the door. Please, Papa.
It was 3:00 am when I felt my father was moaning in pain on the other side of the door. He was down with Covid.
I was scared and praying to God to save him from the covid fist.
On 14th April 2021 — We were so happy to return to our beautiful home from our long 10 days family trip to Delhi.
Life was moving so smoothly as of now. Suddenly on 16th April 2021, my father fell sick. We thought it was just a normal cold and fever. He took medicine and was fine for few hours.
So soon we realized this was not just a normal cold and fever, as his temperature kept on rising for 3rd day. Our hearts were not ready to accept the fact that he might have got covid. So we assured our self and consulted the doctor, where he insisted on doing his covid and dengue test. By evening we got his dengue test report and he tested negative in that. So we waited for his confirmed report for the covid test, which we were supposed to get after 72 hours.
On day 5th, when we saw him suffering in pain, I couldn’t resist myself. Somehow I managed to get in contact with the doctor in my building and asked her to hurry up with his reports.
And what was feared, happened. I was outside when she informed me of the anticipated news.
He tested covid positive.
I felt as if the ground has swept away under my feet. I was disheartened, nervous, and in panic. I don’t wanna lose my father. For a daughter, the father is everything.
I held myself together. I took the medicine recommended by her from the nearest pharmacy and ran towards my home. As soon as I reached home, we quarantined him and gave him medicines, hoping these medicines will show their magic and relief him from his existing pain, but all in vain.
On day 6th, when he informed us about his chest pain. I took him to the hospital. That day was the darkest day of my life. I never felt this weak and helpless. The hospital guards didn’t allow me to consult the doctors even after an appointment.
Madam, you can not go inside.
But why bhaiya? I have an appointment.
No madam, doctors are busy now.
But bhaiya, my appointment is at 10 o’clock. My father is covid positive and is having severe pain.
No madam, hospital rules are there. Covid patients can’t go inside.
Okay then let me go I am negative. At least I can meet the doctor. He required emergency medical treatment, Why don’t you understand. Let me see the doctor. Please bahiya.
I requested them. But they didn’t allow me.
As my father was weak and not able to stand for long. I made him sit under the tree. We waited for a doctor or nurse to come out of that gate. My eyes were glued at the gate with the hope to see a doctor as soon as possible. After waiting for approximately 4 hours I saw the doctor and without wasting a second I ran towards her.
Hello Doctor, My name is Usha. My father is covid positive and is having severe pain in his chest. Please doctor help me.
OK OK relax, calm down. Don’t panic, where is he?
He’s there sitting under the tree. I pointed out towards him.
Did You check his temperature and saturation?
By saturation, you mean his breathing rate?
Yes!!
Yes, I checked. It’s 95 and Temperature 102 degrees C.
Okay Quite Normal.
She insisted to take his X-ray and few blood tests for which I had to go to the covid ward, which was on the other side of the building.
I felt as if I have come from where I left. Again stood at the gate waiting for the Doctor or nurse to appear. The only difference, this time gate was covid ward gate.
I was depressed and tired waiting for the doctor to appear. I saw few ladies with a smile on their faces making a queue behind me. They had also come for their x-ray and blood tests. They were talking among them and one of the ladies asked me…
Beta Are you covid positive?
No, My father is covid positive. I replied to her.
Arey Beta don’t stand here we all are covid positive. she informed me.
Listening to this I moved away an inch from them. Seeing their smiling faces a thought crossed my mind.
How come these people have a smile on their faces? As if they are ready to fight back. Why I am so sad and pitiful?
That was the moment when my mindset changed. Only one thought was swirling in my mind.
I need to save my father at any cost. No matter what.
Somehow I managed to get his test done and it was 10:00 pm when I got his reports. I didn’t know what the report indicates, so I asked the radiologist about his status.
He said he’s covid positive.
I know he’s covid positive but is he normal or critical? I asked him.
The radiologist directed me to one of the doctors where she informed me he might require a bed so soon as his CT score (The parameter to check the percentage of lung damage) is 8.5/25 which was not a normal range.
It was an absolutely heart-wrenching and turmoil situation for me.
Required bed? How will I do it? Who will help me? I don’t have any contacts. God, what should I do? whom to take help? who will help me? No one is there for me.
I did registration for home isolation for more than 7 days but still, no doctor called us. I went to every possible hospital for help but I was misguided and rejected.
You know people say “When you really desire something from the heart and soul, all the universe conspires you to achieve it”. It worked for me, I met Dr. Akashdeep, a Pulmonologist in Goa. I owe to him.
It was my mother who recommended meeting Dr. Akashdeep. Luckily Dr. Akashdeep asked me to come to his clinic with my father’s report. He started with his treatment and asked us to repeat the tests on the 12th day.
By the 12th day, he got Pneumonia. His reports showed a CT score of 12/25 which was critical.
The situation has worsened. His breathing rate can decrease at any moment and blood clots have started to form in his nerves. Dr. Akashdeep asked us to search for a bed as soon as possible. He also said if he gets a bed good to go else we will continue with the treatment, but it will take time for his recovery.
We contacted every possible hospital for a bed, but all in vain. No beds were available for my father. It was a twitching moment for us. Around 9:30 pm my brother said
Di, Get ready. We need to go to the hospital now.
Now!! Why?
We need to get a recommendation letter for his admission to the covid hospital, replied my brother.
But How? All hospitals are saying no beds are available.
We’ll go and check there, calling won’t work, answered my brother
It was 1:00 am we returned home with a recommendation letter from the hospital.
The next day when we arrived at the covid hospital, I saw the real chaos. Pain that was piercing the heart. Thousands of people helplessly lying on the floor, Standing in the queue for beds. Struggling for oxygen. Moaning in pain. Crying to the doctors to save their loved ones. Seeing those suffering my pain seemed less.
Families were praying for their loved ones, but it seems God has closed his ears. No mercy
And there go our doctors trying every possible way to help people.
The doctor checked my father and informed us that he has already crossed 10 days of infection which is the incubation period. The Virus has stopped replicating in his body and now he is out of danger. By the 14th day, he will start with his recovering process.
So we continued with his treatment. Luckily, with God’s grace and the doctor’s guidance, we were able to win the fight against covid.
In the end, I just wanted to say take covid seriously guys. It’s not a joke. If a family member gets covid it's not the suffering of that person alone, the full family goes through that pain. Would you like to see your families going through that pain? No right? So now it's our responsibility to take care of ourselves first and then help the needy.
Wear a mask, wash hands, maintain social distancing, and if you see symptoms directly go to the hospital because precaution is better than cure.
Let's stay strong and fight corona.
