This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
Ken Njeri's life hung in the balance for eight days as he battled Covid-19 in the intensive care unit at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital.
Published on July 6, 2020, in the Sunday Nation, Njeri recounted his ordeal, which began with a heartburn after eating a banana and berries.
Despite taking medication and painkillers, the pain persisted, and Njeri's wife, a pharmacist, suspected something was amiss. A visit to a nearby hospital revealed a persistent cough and high fever, prompting a Covid-19 test that came back positive.
By the time the results were out, Njeri could barely breathe, and he was rushed to Kenyatta University Hospital, where he was placed on oxygen and treated for ARDS, a type of lung failure common in Covid-19 patients.
As Njeri's body struggled to recover, he experienced hallucinations, and his organs suffered. Miraculously, he was discharged from the ICU to the general ward on Thursday and eventually made a full recovery.
However, Njeri's experience serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that Covid-19 survivors face. A 2011 New England Journal of Medicine study found that even five years after treatment, patients may struggle with persistent physical and emotional issues, including difficulty walking and returning to work.
