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My COVID: "I refused to take vaccine "

Rupesh Kajaria was leading an active and healthy life, assured that COVID won’t touch him but it affected not only him but his wife and daughter too. Here’s his COVID experience

Last February, I celebrated my 50th birthday. With regular exercise and yoga, going for a walk daily along the seashore, a simple diet, a calm lifestyle and spiritual reading, I was under the impression that coronavirus will not affect me.

I tried to fight the virus , experimentally. I was urged by my relatives and friends to take the COVID-19 vaccine but I refused to take it, still being in an illusion that nothing can affect me.

Despite being scared of this deadly virus, I started April 2021 with bank audits in three branches respectively. On 5th May, my daughter lost her smell. The next day, my family members were tested for the presence of the virus. My wife, daughter and I tested positive, but my 13 years old son was detected negative. That’s why we decided to send him to our old house.

Now our battle against the virus has commenced. My daughter and my wife did not have any symptoms yet we started taking the medicines as advised by the doctor. Even after six to seven days, my temperature constantly ranged from 99 to 100o F. After inspecting the HRCT score of my chest and my CRP level, my doctor suggested that I should be admitted to a hospital .

My well-wishers advised me to choose a government hospital rather than a private hospital. This is because one would get proper medication and oxygen. They also advised me to specifically get admitted in Seven Hills hospital, located in Marol, Andheri (East).

On the 13th of May, we called an ambulance and I left, humming the tunes of some old Bollywood songs. The moment I came out of the ambulance, a security person confirmed my registration in the hospital. I felt like I was attending a big event. There was an entire army of doctors and nurses standing for us. Just as we feel immense respect for our soldiers, my heart surged with gratitude towards the medical personnel who were helping the country fight Covid.

The cash, credit card and debit card that I had kept with myself were taken by the security as I was not permitted to take them with me in the hospital building. After checking my Aadhar Card and form, I was allotted block number 15 on the 7th floor. There were four beds in one room .

The next day, all my tests were done and accordingly my medicines were decided. I was provided with tea, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, snacks and dinner. Mineral water bottles were kept outside our room.

The doctors and nurses spoke politely and with a smile on their faces, even in such serious situations. They always had a polite attitude towards the patients, the patients were given the independence to walk in the passage not caged in their respective rooms on their beds.

One of the patients wasn’t ready to eat the food provided. That’s when a nurse fed him with her own hands. At that time, I saw humanity in all its glory.

I noticed that out of the 45 patients in my ward, everyday at least 7 to 8 people were permitted to go to their houses.

After finishing my dose of medicine, I was permitted to go back home. After this I was taken back home by the free ambulance provided by the BMC.

In spite of staying for 7 days in the hospital, being treated by the doctors and nurses, medicines, various reports, etc. my treatment was done for free. Gradually, I understood that it was not for free but it was a debt that we could pay back by helping others.

Normally, we always criticize the inefficiency of the politicians and the bureaucrats but after my experience with Seven Hills hospital, I realized that the government, doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff play a huge role.

I specifically thank Seven Hills hospital for being available to the Covid patients.


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Write to us at toi.health1@gmail.com with 'My COVID story' in the subject line

We will publish your experience.

DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician's advice. Please consult your treating physician for more details.


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