As we navigate through the second year of Covid-19, the virus proves to be no longer a stranger. Churches are forced to close, one lockdown after another. Live stream Masses have taken over and Sunday School, RCIA and pre-marriage courses are now conducted online.
It spares none of our brothers and sisters from the risk of infection. We remember also the late Andre Ong, a dedicated youth leader and guest speaker for Empowered Ministry Kuching, whom the Lord called home last month.
Husband-and-wife duo Donald and Marina Tan (both in their early 50s) are parishioners of St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching and frequent contributors to the Archdiocese of Kuching. In this feature, they share a detailed one-month experience of the virus—from their first encounter in late April to hospital discharge in late May. As Sarawak marches towards mass vaccinations, their testaments serve as a better understanding of the virus and to urge people to get their vaccines.
Today’s Catholic brings to you the COVID-19 testimonies of Donald and Marina as narrated by Donald Tan.
After 30 days in the hospital with nearly a fortnight in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) including being intubated and going through the most challenging time ever with a Stage 5 Covid-19 condition, I was delighted to be discharged on Friday, 28 May. Our Covid-19 experience has made Marina and I appreciate life, our loved ones, friends and each other even more.
HOW WE THINK WE CAUGHT THE VIRUS
After over a year completely adhering to the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and keeping active with a regular bunch of mates riding our mountain bikes off the beaten paths, all it took was a little diversion.
Marina had an ‘accident’ on the MASJA Mountain Bike Trail on 22 April where she misplaced and fractured her right middle metatarsal (upper foot) whilst coming off her bike. A day later, we went to a private hospital to have this looked at and we are convinced that we must have contracted this deadly virus while waiting for her CT scan to be done.
Less than a week after this visit, I started feeling weak and ill followed by Marina and we immediately quarantined ourselves and went for a swab test on 28 April. We were woken by a 3:11 am phone call on 29 April informing us that our swab tests came back positive and that an ambulance will be picking us up later in the day for the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).
At daybreak, we informed our family and friends with whom we have been in contact with the week before of our swab test result. Days later, we were deeply relieved when they all informed us that they had gone for their swab tests and results have come back negative.
GREAT MEDICAL CARE
The ambulance dropped us off at 4.00 pm and we were admitted to the quarantine centre at SGH’s annex Anjung Kasih Room 501. We were promptly put through the required tests.
We were put through more tests the next morning (30 April) and after a late and delayed X-ray in the afternoon, the doctors were quick to inform us that my blood test and X-ray image were not looking good and oxygen levels were also low. Thank goodness, Marina’s condition was much better and her oxygen level was good so it was only her headache, fever and cough that had to be treated which were less of a worry. Within the next hour, we were told that we would be transferred to the SGH Covid-19 ward. Whilst waiting for the ambulance to transfer us to the ward, I was given an injection and nearly passed out at the waiting area, the first of many scary moments.
HIGH DEPENDENCY & INTENSIVE CARE UNITS
At the ward, we were quickly interviewed, tested and monitored by the doctors and nurses. After many blood drawing sessions and three days later on Monday 3 May, I was transferred to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) for better oxygen supply. That was going to be the last time I was to see Marina until I was discharged.
At that juncture by the grace of God, we were able to maintain a positive outlook and left the treatment procedures to the doctors. Our prayers and full trust were with our Good Lord and that these able and dedicated doctors and nurses would be the instruments for the Lord to heal me eventually.
This separation from loved ones is definitely the most difficult part for all Covid-19 patients. Irrespective of how difficult things got, you will have to go through all these on your own, down to the worst possible outcome, dying alone. As positive as we both were throughout this whole experience, this scary possibility was always at the back of my mind.
As my condition was not improving even with the high oxygen supply, it was inevitable that I was to be moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and on Wednesday 5 May I was wheeled to ICU Bed 6. As scary as this proposition was, I was prepared for whatever procedure that was going to be done on me and was adamant that I will be a model patient. Around 3.00 pm on 11 May, I was sedated, intubated and placed in the prone position to facilitate lung function.
On this same day Marina was moved to a quieter Psychiatric/ Covid-19 recovery ward. Marina had an X-ray done on 12 May on her fractured foot. On Thursday 13 May, one of the doctors updated Marina from the ICU that I had been extubated but the inflammation of my lungs was still bad. On a positive note, all my other organs were functioning well and in good condition. I was still in a groggy state from the sedation but was able to breathe on my own with an oxygen concentrator. I was finally able to speak to Marina and the family on Friday 14 May.
FACT OR FICTION?
The days in ICU were a blur to me as I was sedated, intubated and loaded with an elaborate cocktail of drugs. Dreams and hallucinations became so vivid that it took me quite a while to discern between fiction and reality.
At one point in my dream state, I recall saying that I was unable to carry on the painful procedures any longer as they were not showing any positive results and that it was time to ‘pull the plug’, definitely the worst moment throughout this harrowing experience. This threatening scene became part of a chapter of a fantastically surreal sci-fi adventure storyline including a helicopter flight with Marina on 15 May. This ‘production’ definitely rivals some of Steven Spielberg’s best creations.
This however is a story for another time over coffee perhaps but suffice to say that I was so caught up with all these that the doctors and nurses must have thought that I had gone mad. The uncanny thing is that I remember this dream state vividly to every detail till today.
YAY, OUT OF ICU
Near to midnight on Saturday 15 May, after over a fortnight at the HDU and ICU hanging on by a thread, I was pushed to the general Covid-19 ward (Bed 13A), where Marina and I last saw each other.
Mentally still straddling between reality and dream world, I was really in a confused state.
After two weeks in ICU without a shower or a good towelling down, I was desperate for a good cleanup and the next day pleaded with the doctors to remove the catheter and the ‘hook’ lines attached to my inner thigh. After confirming that these were no longer required, they were duly removed allowing me greater mobility. I could finally take a good shower and feel like a proper person again.
The many times I had to get myself to the toilet each day was a minor inconvenience which afforded me to feel normal again. I pushed myself a tad too far on the second evening not realising that my blood oxygen level was still low. On a trip to the toilet, I lost my balance getting off my bed and fell over on the floor just next to my neighbour’s bed. Luckily, I did not hit anything but managed to pick myself up. Lesson learnt, I just have to slow down.
VIRTUAL PARTNER
The best part of coming out of ICU and gaining back some foothold of reality versus dream state was that I finally had Marina back even if it was only virtually via WhatsApp Video Calls. Through our constant communications, I was able to start figuring out what was real and what was just a figment of my imagination from all the drugs coupled with the mental strain from the fear and apprehension of going through the worst of what Covid-19 threw at me. This was indeed an important part of my recovery process.
HOW LONG MORE?
Having been in the hospital for nearly three weeks already by then, I was hoping that it would be no more than a few more days or at most a week before I would be discharged to recuperate at home with Marina. My hopes were dashed when the primary specialist doctor in charge of my case at the Covid-19 ward explained that I might have to remain in hospital for another 10 days to two weeks for them to make sure that my overall health was good enough for them to discharge me. Oxygen saturation in my blood was still poor so I still needed oxygen backup and the many blood tests showed the presence of bugs in the system likely caused by the many lines they had on me whilst in ICU.
This was really frustrating for me especially when I was still at the Covid-19 ward where there was a constant stream of new patients being admitted at all times of the day and night. With all the patients’ coughing, wheezing and whining in addition to the nurses’ testing and medication rounds, good sleep was near impossible. As I was feeling better each day and test results were consistently improving, I understandingly became less of a priority in comparison to the new patients requiring more urgent care. I was most appreciative when they eventually moved me to Bed 24 in a clean room (where recovered Covid-19 patients are placed) on 21 May.
COVID-19 FREE WARD TO KICK THE BUG
I was transferred to Medical 3 Ward (Bed 1) on the 9th floor early morning at 1.00 am on Saturday 22 May and was more reassured the following daybreak when I was visited by at least three doctors including the specialist physician who was able to explain clearly my conditions they were trying to treat and provide a more reflective timeline which I was then pleased to accept.
Two more nights in the general ward and I was moved to Bed 30, a twin share private air-conditioned room with ensuite bathroom and toilet on Monday 24 May, what a big difference this made. Finally, private facilities where I could sanitise and feel more comfortable in. I was alone in this room for four nights as the specialist physician who took over my case wanted to isolate me due to the bug that they were trying to rid me of. During this time, I was able to get better sleep and was able to have Marina’s company virtually via WhatsApp Video Call each day, which was God sent.
The specialist physician and her assistant doctors were very thorough in their daily examinations, taking blood tests when required, monitoring my blood pressure, oxygen and also blood sugar levels each day and weaning me off medications once tests showed improvement with that particular issue. Soon it was just the intravenous antibiotics for the blood bug that they were concerned with. With that they were able to affirmatively set a date for my eventual discharge which was most reassuring.
Continue to Page2 for the rest of Donald and Marina's ordeals
