Centenarian beats the coronavirus
IN THE most cheerful news from Mumbai, India’s worst-hit city by Covid-19, on the eve of celebrating his 100th birthday, a retired teacher conquered the coronavirus and was discharged from a government hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
A stern, retired ashram school teacher, Arjun G Naringrekar tested Covid-19 positive on July 1 and was taken to the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’S Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Hospital, in Jogeshwari.
Finally, after two weeks of intensive treatment and care at the hospital, Naringrekar, born in Naringre village of Sindhudurg, on July 15, 1920, had fully recovered from the virus.
On learning that it was his 100th birthday on Wednesday, the Covid19 warriors at the hospital, including doctors, nurses and other care-givers, organised a surprise birthday-eve celebration for him.
As Naringrekar was wheeled out in the hospital complex, he was greeted with a cake – bearing candles depicting his 100th birthday.
Amid a song and clapping, he cut the cake.
“When he tested Covid-19 positive two weeks ago, with his 100th birthday round the corner, the entire family – comprising children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren – was shattered.
They immediately admitted him from their Kandivali home to the Jogeshwari hospital for treatment,” said a civic official.
Given his advanced age and frail health, the doctors, nurses and other staffers took extra care of their patient during his stay in hospital. After some family members were infected, the 100-year-old man, with symptoms of pneumonia, got infected.
In view of his teaching background, Naringrekar, who retired on July 31, 1978, proved to be an extremely disciplined and co-operative patient, but even the health-care workers occasionally got a taste of the rigid taskmaster and his loud voice.
Naringrekar was all smiles and he profusely thanked and blessed all the caregivers before being taken home by his family.
On June 30, a 103-year old greatgrandfather became the oldest man in the country to conquer Covid-19 and return home.