Have you noticed how these days becoming a hermit has been the only way for everyone. Meditation has become the go-to remedy for any ailment. COVID19 enforced isolation wasn't easy to adhere to, but there was no other way...no one wanted to get close to you when you had the virus. Caring had been outsourced, you no longer got Doctors examining you, they were only available to be consulted on Video.
You had to learn to self- care, self-serve and preserve or perish.
Having had the Virus in November 2020, I thought I had seen it at its worst, but what did I know. The second wave was even more lethal and contagious and spared no one. My Mother in Law in London didn't get it but she had pneumonia that caught her lungs and filled it with pleurisy. At 95, she fought well but alas, this was persistent and way stronger than all the drugs she was administered. 10th April 2021 Sheela Khanna, the feisty Dalhousie girl had to give in to a stubborn pneumonia.
The Khanna Clan had lost its reigning Matriarch, not to COVID 19 though. Just a few weeks later, COVID struck closer home. Sahil was down, as was one of Deepak's Older Sisters. She was in Hospital and I refused to let Sahil go to one. After all I was COVID-Proofed and partially vaccinated.
So from 23rd of April began our ordeal battling with bacteria and viruses that were playing dirty games. Isolation was the last thing on my mind, don't get me wrong, Sahil had been confined to his room reluctantly but I wasn't going to subject him to the severe isolation I had undergone, just four months ago. I will care for him and ensure his bed was clean, as were his surroundings and he too, getting him to bathe everyday was a big struggle.
The high fever was scary, scary beyond imagination. My mind was playing games...to Sahil I would give the impression that all was 'Normal' and privately I would panic. Reaching out to doctors and friends to understand what I was doing that was wrong. But the fever raged on and subsided only when we dosed it round the clock with Paracetamol and Meftal. Late night consultations with friends gave us that discovery that it had to be given in rotation and Meftal was the trick.
I would often find Sahil in a pool of sweat after a high feverish bout. Sheets had to be changed frequently and he had to be bathed in ice several times. As I donned my Flo Nightingale role I realised this was back breaking, I had to cook and clean and walk and feed our Furry Maximus three times too. In addition I had to look after myself too ensuring I don't fall ill either. Then there was the staff, who had to stay away from Sahil's room and Sahil and yet come to work else I was alone in my crusade.
Deepak's flight, visa, and trip was all on me. I was working the phone overtime, talking to friends in MEA, the BHC through Sanjoy Roy and the VFS and then there was AIR INDIA and its limited flights. We had made several cancellations due to the Visa and impossible to get RTPCR tests. What a month, obtaining the visa took a huge toll, Mataji died before we could get the visa and then when we did we almost missed the funeral too.
Thanks to a very patient Sanjoy Roy, an ailing Sonia Bhalla and an indulgent and even more calm Shashi Veliathan I managed to get him on board the AI flight to the UK on 18th April. It was a Herculian task and one I nearly failed at, but by the grace of all my friends who rallied around we did make it possible for Deepak to attend his mother's funeral.
Back to the problems at home ..soon we were confident that Sahil will sail through until one night after two days of No Fever we had the mother of all Fevers at 103.7 !!!
I did not know what to do apart from drenching the poor lad in ice cold compresses and still not moving the mercury a notch. the treating doctor too told me he couldn't understand this pattern and he was withdrawing his consult.
My go-to-when-I-panic Doctor had scared me that night by telling me that Sahil needs Oxygen support and a hospital bed IMMEDIATELY and that I will lose him if I didn't shift him PRONTO.
I Panicked. I cried. Quietly. In my Room. Then I called Ragini, Nina, Sudipto Anshu, Sonia, and anyone who could give me any solid advice. Finally Sahil suggested I find Dr A Kishore to ask for help. Phew !! What luck that Dr Kishore advised me about the meds and then also hooked me up with Dr Viny Kantroo at Apollo and what a Godsend she turned out to be.
First we argued about hospitalisation and I flatly refused to entertain the idea. I also had to find an Oxygen Generator ASAP and I reached out to Amitabh Kant in my Panic and he sent one immediately and before that Sahil's friend Vrinda sent her personal one to save Sahil who was critical by now.
Back to Dr Kantroo who got off on a wrong foot with us first but then realised my predicament and came around to being on call and trusting in my nursing abilities to swing Sahil in the good way soon.
It took us two weeks post Covid, to be rid of Covid....Meanwhile, Deepak's sister was battling in hospital for her life...80% lung damage. She died on 22 May. Almost a month after she fell ill.
My neighbour upstairs too had Covid and Maya had been taken to hospital around 23 April and never returned, leaving behind two very young numbed daughters and husband.
In these struggles, what I learnt was NOT to become a hermit. Share. Share. Share .... for in the sharing is the learning. every experience teaches you something new. For instance, if I had not shared my anxiety with fellow sufferers, I wouldn't have learnt to crack the fever code with Meftal. I wouldn't have got an Oxygen Generator.
