Kottayam, Apr 6: "I will leave this room within a week after defeating you," the braveheart nurse had vowed after contracting the deadly coronavirus while attending to India's oldest COVID-19 survior, expressing unflinching faith in Kerala's health care system.
Last Friday, 32-year old Reshma Mohandas lived up to her promise and walked out holding her head high to her home, where she is now placed under 14-day quarantine, after she and the elderly man and his wife were discharged from the Medical College Hospital here on being cured of th e disease.
Soon after 93-year-old Thomas Abraham, whose recovery has been dubbed as a 'miracle cure' by the medical community, and 88-year old Mariyamma left the hospital, Reshma too headed home but with the resolve to come back and serve the patients after the mandatory two weeks quarantine.
"I will leave this room within a week after defeating you (coronavirus)", Reshma had posted in a WhatsApp group of her friends and colleagues while undergoing treatment in isolation at the hospital.
"I posted that message in the WhatsApp group because I have full faith in Kerala's health system. It is world class," Reshma told reporters from her home.
The nurse, who took care Thomas and Mariyamma since March 12, believes she contracted the disease as she was in close contact with and often talked to the couple, who did not wear masks as it made them uncomfortable.
She said she loved taking care of all their needs.
"I was not tensed at all. I love taking care of elderly people. We used to talk a lot (in the ICU)", she said.
Reshma, who was earlier working in the operating theatre of another section, said she used work for four hours in the ICU before she contracted the virus and was admitted to the same wing as a patient.
"I had close contact with them in the ICU because I paid attention to address their every needs," she said. The first warning sign came on March 23 morning when she had a throat infection.
Reshma immediately alerted the head nurse, who in turn informed the doctors.
She was asked to visit the fever clinic at the Medical College and was later referred to the isolation facility where she took care of elderly novel coronavirus patients.
Some 20 nurses who had come into contact with her were sent to home quarantine.
On March 24, she tested positive.
"I did not have any other complications, barring headache and body pain", she said.
Reshma said she was ready to serve in the isolation facility for COVID-19 patients after 14 days of mandatory home quarantine.
"I am ready to work again in the isolation facility when I return," the feisty nurse, whose husband is an engineer, said.
She was all the more happy that proper medical care at the hospital led to recovery of Abraham and Mariyamma.
Kerala Health minister K K Shailaja telephoned Reshma to express her happiness over her recovery.
The Minister said the news about a health professional contracting the coronavirus was a matter of concern for the state.
In a statement, she hailed Reshma's dedication as a professional and said she had treated elderly patients like her parents, attending to their every need.
The elderly couple, hailing from Ranni village in Pathanamthitta district had contracted the virus from their son, daughter-in-law and grandson who returned from Italy last month, all of whom have also recovered.
Comments
He has made our Mangalore proud. Congratulations Dear.There are lots of youths are their like Gururaja. Unfortunately without proper education , finance and proper guidance they could not achieve anything.
Most of them are under the fold of Sangha Pariwar, where their rich leaders sends there own children abroad for education and they use these boys for goondasm in Mangalore.
nice lift, hardwork came to like a fruit.
really great, working for indian airforce only a big achievement,. clubbing to that he took gold medal in weight lifting, proud to be mangalorean.
parents really lucky to have this kid, god bless u all
awesome lift, deserve the golden medal,
Congratulation Mr. Gururaj... Good Luck ...
Not only a Tuck driver, even a lowest in the man made caste system cam also participate and they are also a human being.
He is in the open society. He can dream and accomplish it.
The constitution is secular, but the people of some sects are making polarization.
The God has not made such division.
Parents must be proud of him, did a very good achievement.
excellent, well done all the best keep up the winning movement.
Congrats Gururaj,U have made the country proud.All the best for Olympics.
Rich Muslim Fathers Son(Father in Gulf,Father big business in Mlore) from Mangalore roams in City Center/Forum...hahaha...Wa avasthe marre.Care ijji.
Marali schoolige alla...dakshina kannadada makkalige bekirudu Shale/Colleginalli sari daarige/100% markige.
Just go and see Aloysius/Milagris muslim students mark....hahaha...lagadi pother matha....ONLY JOLLY.
live example for poor family kids, if someone want to get success they dont need anybody, hardwork make them success.
we are proud of you, a national salute to the brave boy.
well done boy, keep it up and congratulation.
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