Woman sets up Covid ward at home, saves old parents, self

A young woman saved her parents and herself from Covid-19 by setting up a medical facility at her home on the beachfront in Visakhapatnam.

A senior business executive with a multi-national advertising firm in Bengaluru, Swathi (name changed) had been working from her Vizag home since January this year. Her 75year-old mother had been confined to a wheelchair after suffering from multiple sclerosis. Her father, though 82, led a normal life. On August 14, her mother showed all key symptoms of Covid-9 and her oxygen level too fell to 78.

Because of her mother’s immobility, Swathi could not take her to a hospital and get her tested for the virus. She also could not get anybody to collect the swab, a facility now available online. While the clock was ticking, she was in two minds – whether to admit her mother to a hospital, where proper care could not be expected due to the rush of patients, or try and get medical personnel or treat her mother at home. She chose the latter.

Without losing time, she quickly got an oxygen cylinder set up with a mask in a room, which she turned into a makeshift Covid ward. On the advice of medical professionals, she also arranged medicines as administered to Coronavirus patients all over. She also had a thermo gun, electric steam inhaler and oximeter.

“I had a cook, servant and technicians visiting my home. I provided them PPEs. I spent most of my time with my mother building confidence in her. I was cleaning and feeding her after confining my aged father to a single room after he too started showing primary symptoms of Covid. I also had symptoms but went on caring for my mother,’’ Swathi said.

Finally, her efforts paid off on Sunday morning when her mother felt normal and her oxygen level touched 98. Her temperature also came down and she now has no fatigue. Her father and herself too are feeling normal and have no fever.