The Survivor Story

A 34-year-old woman contracted Coronavirus when she returned from Finland. She says that she regrets going abroad due to which she came in contact with the virus. Speaking to PTI wire service, the survivor who is from Ahmedabad, urged people to remain indoors. She said despite all precautions she contracted the virus and would insist that people stay home in order to prevent the spread. She lives in the             Ambawadi locality in Ahmedabad. After she successfully recovered from the disease, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital discharged her on Sunday.

Neighbours gave a warm welcome

Residents of her society gave the woman a very warm welcome by clapping and blowing conch when she came back home after recovery.

She requested people to not to step out of their houses. She said to NDTV, “From my personal experience, I must say that there is no alternative to staying at home. The risk of going abroad I took was absolutely not worth it. You are safe until you are at home.”

Took all precautions while travelling

The woman was one of the first few patients of Coronavirus after the outbreak of the deadly disease in Gujarat. She further added, ” When I went abroad, I took all possible precautions. I was wearing the N95 mask, cleaning my hands with sanitiser at regular intervals and also maintaining distance from others, and yet, I contracted the infection. So, my advice to everyone is to stay indoors and contact a government hospital if you develop any symptoms.”

Read books and remembered God

Rita Bachkaniwala from Surat is also a Coronavirus Survivor. She told India Today, “I had dry cough and fatigue. My infection was limited to my throat only and did not reach my lungs. Therefore, I did not develop any breathing difficulty. This was because I went on time to get tested. If people have dry cough or fever and think they might have Coronavirus, they should get themselves tested immediately.” On being asked about anxiety she says, ” I didn’t have anxiety or fear. I was reading. I also have exams coming up. So I studied. I surrounded myself with positivity. I would meditate and spend my time with God because I am very religious as well.”

However, there are thousands of patients still in the hospitals and fighting the disease bravely. Hrishi Giridhar is one such person who is currently in a hospital and fighting bravely against the deadly disease.

On 3rd of April, Hrishi posted on Instagram about his experience while fighting the deadly disease. He told people about the symptoms he had. Majority of which was fever, lethargy and weakness.

Hrishi says, “I was admitted to Kasturba hospital. The nurses and doctors are friendly and helpful. I feel like I am in very good hands. The rooms, wards and the washroom are clean. They have kept multiple multiple sanitiser bottles in every room. The doctors and nurses seem to know every patient and their symptoms.”

Doctors ensuring good mental health

Talking about the doctors, he said: “A doctor took rounds to every room and talked to every patient just to ensure that their mental health is okay.” To this, he further added, “This was one of the nicest and most reassuring things to happen to me since I came to the hospital.”

Hrishi further says “I have seen many patients who got recovered and were discharged. I am grateful to all the doctors, nurses and cleaners who are  helping me and ensuring that I am comfortable. I urge you all to follow the state’s orders to stay indoors and stay isolated, and to not unnecessarily take actions that may put more pressure on the healthcare system.”

Another experience of 22 year old girl

As the world battles Covid-19, Tobi Akingbade, a 28-year-old entertainment reporter in the United Kingdom, has shared the good news of her recovery from the novel coronavirus and written about her journey on Twitter in hope that it will help someone in need.

In a series of tweets on Monday, Tobi Akingbade, who goes by the handle @TobiRachel_, wrote about how she contracted the virus, symptoms she developed and her road to recovery. Akingbade said she was conflicted about sharing her experience on social media, but was encouraged to "share hope and good news".

"A lot of us may not get access to Covid-19 testing kits and calls with NHS 111 feel scripted, I’ll share my experience," wrote Tobi Akingbade while hoping to help people with her experience. Akingbade has also written as to how she couldn’t be tested for Covid-19 despite showing symptoms.

Tobi Akingbade wrote on Twiiter, "I survived coronavirus. Spent nearly 2 weeks indoors + in quarantine as my body fought it off. Yesterday, I took my first steps downstairs, headed straight to my garden + took a deep breath. Wasn’t gonna share this online but I’ve been encouraged to share hope & good news."

Writing about her 12-day journey, Tobi Akingbade said on Day 1, she was informed that she had to isolate herself since she had met a person who had come in contact with someone with Covid-19. "Nothing serious I told myself, but I decided to social distance anyway. Later I found out I’d been in direct contact with a confirmed case 5 days before," she wrote.

Writing about the symptoms

 Tobi Akingbade said, "Day 2: I develop a very dry cough. And a swollen gland I developed 2 days before Day 1 became very prominent. The cough was persistent making speaking for longer than 40 secs hard. I was extremely fatigued. I’m anaemic and well acquainted with tiredness but this was chronic." "A good night sleep did not help. My chest was painfully tight, at first I blamed work anxiety. I developed a fever (was hot + cold at the same time). I struggled to walk and my breathing became shallow + difficult. The muscles in my neck began to ache," she wrote about Day 3.

Referring to Day 4 as the scariest day, Tobi Akingbade wrote, "Woke up feeling like I’d been run over by a truck in my sleep and then thrown of a cliff. The muscles in my face ached. The muscles in eyes hurt. Every muscle hurt. My persistent cough became extremely painful. Developed a painful migraine. She added that she called NHS 111 who confirmed her suspicions and instructed her to self-isolate."

Day 5: "I slept a lot. Keeping my eyes open was painful and a core. Wore sunglasses to use my phone. The sunlight made my migraine worst. My body ached and my breathing became worst. Coughing didn’t help. I could feel my lungs getting heavier, every breath got shorter," the UK-based journalist wrote.

On Day 6, Tobi Akingbade said painkillers did not work and that she was scared to sleep. The next day, she says, she noticed that she had lost the ability to taste food. "Nearly passed out brushing my teeth as it was obstructing my breathing. NHS were too overstretched to help, she wrote on Twitter. I was begging God, I didn’t want to die this way," Tobi said.

On Day 8, Tobi said as advised by Twitter, she ran a humid shower. "I drew my curtains for the 1st time, still needed sunglasses. Body aches stopped. Migraine not so persistent. Coughed less but it was a nauseous and brought up yellowy phlegm from my lungs," Tobi wrote and said it was on this day she found the strength to find hope as her body temperature came back to normal.

Tobi Akingbade added: "Day 9-12: Saw improvements slowly. Was able to hold my breath for 8 secs now. Slept less, was able to WFH at times. Called NHS again due to a scare with breathing, unable to get medical assistance but the problem solved itself. Became physically restless on Day 11." Tobi Akingbade said it was on Day 13 that she walked down the stairs for the first time after falling sick. "Thanked God and walked around my garden. Wasn’t sure I’d remember what fresh air would feel like," she wrote.