This archive report was first published on 22 August 2020.
On July 22, 2020, I was scheduled to meet a news source in Nairobi city centre, but I struggled to wake up and had to push the meeting to 10:30 am. I had been feeling tired and weary, and my appetite was gone. Little did I know, I was in the early stages of Covid-19.
As the days went by, my symptoms worsened. I was sweating, had an irritating metallic taste in my mouth, and was sleeping up to 18 hours a day. My wife urged me to seek medical attention, but I was hesitant, thinking the symptoms would go away on their own.
It wasn't until Sunday, July 26, that I finally conceded and went to the hospital. The tests were done, and we waited for the results, which took 48 to 72 hours to arrive. When the results finally came out on Wednesday, July 29, I was positive.
My hospital experience was a nightmare. The hospital and the insurance firm were exchanging emails, and I was stuck in the car, suffering silently. It took an hour for me to be wheeled into the wards, even after we had offered to pay cash. That same night, an X-ray test showed that I also had pneumonia, and I was referred to the high dependency unit.
After 11 days in hospital, I was discharged. None of my family members tested positive. My overall lesson is that one should test immediately they experience a slight change in their bodies. I also learnt that the inability of the lungs to pump enough oxygen is what is making people die.
I would like to thank my wife and family, consultant physicians Dr. Kairu, Dr. Odok, Dr. Oloo, Dr. Brenda, and nurses Kilonzo, Jackson, Winfred, Hawa, Ann, and Jane, as well as support staff Catherine and Loyce. And all the professional colleagues and news sources who checked on me. You all played a key role in my recovery, may you be rewarded immensely.
Let's all follow the Ministry of Health protocols: Keep social distance, sanitise, and wash your hands.
