DESPITE having successfully recovered from the Covid-19 infection, retired civil servant Mohd Pauzi Md Tahir, 63, is still rattled by the whole experience.
The sexagenarian was first tested positive on May 29 before being admitted to the Kulim Hospital in Kedah on June 1.
He was diagnosed as a stage four Covid-19 patient.
“It was like the world had gone dark when I received the news.
“Unfortunately, my wife and my two sons also tested positive for Covid-19 but they were asymptomatic, showing no symptoms.
“My family members were put under house quarantine for 10 days and they managed to recover after that.
“As for myself, I was having breathing difficulty and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 13 days.
“My body was so weak during that time and the doctor there asked for my permission to put me under induced coma but I refused and chose to stay conscious to fight the virus.
“After 13 days had passed, thankfully my condition got a little bit better, and I was allowed to undergo home quarantine.
“But I was then still having some breathing difficulty and became exhausted easily. I also lost my appetite.
“So, my family bought an oxygen concentrator for me to use at home,” Mohd Pauzi told Buletin Mutiara during a phone interview yesterday (Aug 25).
Mohd Pauzi said after about two months of home quarantine and using the oxygen concentrator to breathe properly, he finally managed to fully recovered.
“But due to the infection, my weight dipped 10kg from 71kg to 61kg.
“It’s alright because the most important thing is that I am grateful to be alive,” he added.
According to Mohd Pauzi, he was also counting the days to his vaccination. But it won’t be so soon as former Covid-19 patients would have to wait for a period of three months to allow the body to strengthen their immune system to fight the coronavirus.
He also advised the public not to take the Covid-19 situation for granted.
“The Covid-19 infection is real and it is very painful.
“Thus, we should not let our guard down and continue to heed the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to curb the spread of the deadly virus among our community,” he added.
Another Covid-19 survivor, Abd Rahim Abdullah, 60, said he was lucky to complete two doses of vaccine in early July, a few days before being tested positive for Covid-19.
“If not, I believe it will become worse. Because of this, I only experienced mild symptoms such as coughing and loss of appetite.
“However, I was sent to the Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centre (PKRC) at Pusat Kecemerlangan Mara (MEC) Jawi.
“After six days being treated at the centre, I managed to fully recover from the disease. And I am grateful for that.
“Thus, I would like to urge those who have not registered themselves for vaccination yet to please do so.
“We need to be vaccinated in order to protect ourselves and our loved ones from this deadly virus.
“After all, no one is fully protected until everyone is fully vaccinated,” he added.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix courtesy of interviewees