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
Congratulation Harinath!! all the best for your future plans.
So many rejected votes that means so many elected representatives whichever party they belong not educated enough at least how to vote. One who vote them has to be blamed. what work they can do for the betterment of the society. The majority of the winning candidate to knows raise two fingers only while they win.
jai jai BJP, Congrates Sumithra all the best.
Congratulations & All best wishes to our New Mayor harinath. Let Mangalore develop under your leadership.
Congratulations to deputy Mayor too. jai ho congress.
Look at our Photo obsessed congress leaders of Mangalore namely Bava & Vinayraj. Pushing and posing is their birthright.
Give first priority to invent Cancer (communal riots) treating medicine which is taking lot of innocent lives in Coastal area due to some dangerous virus spreading it. If you succeed in this you will be remembered as a best scientist in the History.
Congratulation......Keep going...All the best.
Congratulations to the newly elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
Finally we got a mayor.
Congrats to both of you.
Congratulations on being elected as new Mayor for MCC. Do your best to take this city as the best city in the state.
Hope new mayor won't use dhow as done by earlier mayor during flood..as a joyride..!!
Congratulations harinath, you deserve this after serving long years and we look forward your good works and smiling face.
Next What????? making money ya making developments?????
Congratulations Mayor and Deputy Mayor. God bless you both and all the best
Congratulations harinath, I am sure you will work for the development of Mangalore, specially on drainage and drinking water. May God be with you and grant you good health to work for the welfare of the people.
All credit goes to Khader, Lobo, Raikulu.....Congis worried about vote bank as all states are sweept by BJP and they are looking to retain Karnataka with the help of Minorities!
This is your mission to serve the city without looking your pocket, but serve the city with selflessness.to maintain safety in the region......don't look for the party and religion but serve as human.All the best
Please work enthusiastically, united, share each other, bring amicable solution for the problems,include innovative practices, future plans, keep vision Goal and mission.
Unnecessary Politics. Groupism should be banned. It is very unhealthy in the community.
Election is over. Sink your differences. All the members have the mandate to work together as a NEW TEAM to the steady growth of the MCC at the out set of the financial 'crisis. I wish all the best to the new mayor
All the best to the newly elected mayor of MCC. Hearty congratulations to all,
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