Inside Wexford’s drive-thru test centre in Clonard
CLAIRE MUST REMAIN IN ISOLATION INDEFINITELY AFTER RECOVERY FROM MAJOR SURGERY
HAVING gone through life-changing experimental surgery in November to correct a rare heart and lung condition back in November, Wexford mother of three Claire Malone has already been through the mill.
Already operating with just one lung, she required surgery to reposition her heart and windpipe by inserting two saline breast implants into the space where her right lung used to be. While the surgery was a success, she had a scare in the weeks after and was readmitted to hospital and was diagnosed as being in multi-organ failure. After five weeks of being stabilised and monitored, she was finally allowed home to her family.
Claire was just given the all clear to, as she puts it ‘begin living again’ on March 6, however, on the very same day she was advised by her medical team that it was ‘absolutely paramount’ that she self-isolate as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
‘My organs are still in recovery from the trauma and my doctors believe my body simply would not cope if I contracted this new virus,’ Claire explained from her home at Fortune’s Field in Clonard. ‘The reason being it mimics exactly what happened to my body post-surgery and my organs have not had sufficient time to bounce back. I have never experienced as much physical pain in my life – the inability to breathe was terrifying. The paramedics in Wexford were amazing – I was very lucky to survive.’
As a result, Claire is now one of those people who’ve been forced to cut off all physical contact with the outside world.
‘I’m feeling more comfortable having the kids’ home from school as that was a major factor for transmission to me,’ she said. ‘Having said that they have found this first week extremely tough, and we have had plenty of arguments because they want to hang out with friends but obviously can’t. They do understand the necessity for this though and they’ve been very understanding. They have a lot of worries about the possibility of me being ill again.’
Being faced with the prospect of entertaining children of 13, 12 and 2 could be seen as a challenge at the best of times, but for Claire and her family, they are taking it day by day for the greater good. She has a dedicated team of friends who regularly drop off supplies and deliver them to her back door in closed crates. Everything is then disinfected with a Dettol mix before being put away.
‘It’s difficult not seeing people on a daily basis or being able to meet friends out for coffee,’ Claire said. ‘A close family member passed away last week and I was unable to attend the funeral or to visit grieving relatives to offer support. I’ve been keeping sane by keeping in touch with loved ones via phone and messenger. The kids have been linking in with friends over online gaming. We’re watching a lot of movies and documentaries, reading a lot more and spending some time out in the garden. I feel like I am perpetually in the kitchen either cooking or cleaning. It is a struggle some days with anxiety but I try to combat that by writing when I have the time.’
In terms of how long this will go on for, we just don’t know. However, Claire feels that we’ ll be over the worst of this quicker if people take some more personal responsibility.
‘It will last longer the more we keep breaking the rules set in place for public safety,’ she said. ‘We were advised to self-isolate and practice social distancing as much as possible and to live within our own family units- avoid visiting friend – avoid unnecessary journeys. The reality is it is only a minority that are following these rules.’
‘It baffled me to see on the same day the announcement was made that people flocked to supermarkets in droves – panic buying – crowds of people pushing around one another for bread and milk, most likely mingling with people who were already infected and therefore speeding up the rate of transmission. It felt as if all logic had gone out the window.’
‘It was disheartening to see that after the advice was given that people were still congregating in pubs etc. Not giving much thought to anyone vulnerable that they may come in contact with. I’ve seen a lot of statements from people online saying “it’s only the elderly or vulnerable who will be affected” as if to say that the rules only apply to these groups. Almost as if these groups of people don’t matter. While it’s encouraging to see the effort that most businesses have made by closing or implementing measures to ensure social distancing is practiced, the mentality is still very much that this is a flu and everything will be grand – carry on as normal.’
‘The reality is that Ireland were operating at 100% capacity in ICU in acute hospitals before Christmas. Ireland only had 260 ICU beds available then with the number to increase to 400 by 2031. We are going to need quadruple those numbers. It is terrifying to me to see people treat this so nonchalantly. We have front-line workers risking their lives daily now to save others. What I foresee happening if people don’t follow the rules is a massive spike in critical cases. Our health care system does not have the capacity, the staff or the lifesaving equipment required if even 1% of the population requires ventilation. This seems to be a necessity for most who are badly affected including people who have been otherwise healthy.’
‘If we do not begin to follow the rules set out we are putting doctors and nurses in a position of having to make hard decisions. For example it 32 year old me presents with Covid 19 and another 32 year old otherwise healthy person prevents with same and there is only one ventilator available – it would be given the otherwise healthy 32 year old because they would be deemed to have a better chance at survival. It would be the correct decision. I might also be able to survive it the equipment was available to me but the likelihood is I would die due to lack of intervention.
We have seen the fallout from China and especially Italy when these decisions have to be made. People are dying who could otherwise be saved if the facilities were available.’
‘Simply saying “Ah I’ ll be grand, I’m not old or sick” is what is going to have us in a position where we are overwhelming an already overwhelmed health care service, exhausting our amazing front-line staff and losing loved ones because we couldn’t be bothered to listen.’ Claire concluded.
‘After being as ill as I have been and also having loved ones in my life who are high risk – I choose not to take that gamble with my life or theirs.’
Also active with the Wexford People Helping People group, Claire says that a new network of volunteers has also been set up to aid those who need supplies and to check in on the elderly and vulnerable in their areas. People are encouraged to get involved by checking the WPHP Covid-19 Assistance Group on Facebook.