Daryl Pereira

So much is said about older adults and COVID-19, and that they are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. “They are more vulnerable to the coronavirus disease.” “They face significant risk of developing severe illness if they contract the disease due to physiological changes that come with ageing and potential underlying health conditions.”
It is also reported widely that more than 50 per cent of all fatalities involved people aged 80 years or older. Reports show that 8 out of 10 deaths are occurring in individuals with at least one comorbidity, in particular those with cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes, but also with a range of other chronic underlying conditions. But there is also news that defeats all these aspects! There is encouraging news and a ray of hope.
Teresa Murray, 87, has been living in Lalitpur, Nepal. She has been living with multiple health complexities – hypertension and hearing impaired for 26 years, diabetes for 60 years and stent in her heart through angioplasty and others ailments that travel with old age. Due to severe pain in her hip, she was taken to the emergency care unit of Medicity hospital on the evening of May 5, 2021. CT scan conducted divulged she had a fracture on her right hip bone and needed surgery with mechanical replacement in the joint.
However, the surgery could not be conducted as she shockingly tested positive through the antigen test conducted by the hospital as a protocol for new admissions during the pandemic. It was surprising news because there were no symptoms whatsoever and with normal SpO2 levels. RTPCR test done on May 6 confirmed her positive again.
The old fragile lady was sadly shifted from the emergency to the COVID-19 Ward, leaving her large family of 100+ members to tears. Thankfully the Medicity Hospital administration considered an exclusive cabin with private nurse attendant as the feeble patient was not capable of self-mobility and needed round the clock assistance even for a glass of water.
After three weeks of agony, pain and going through five RTPCR tests and lying with a traction on her right leg throughout three weeks, Murray gave a ray of hope to the people of Nepal and a special message to the older people “not to worry” – as she tested negative to the virus on the evening of May 26.
She was shifted to the non-COVID-19 ward in the evening, and while she lay in her cabin, the lady firmly grasped her son’s hand whom she saw with tear filled eyes and thanked the Medicity doctors and nurses as they were like a family. Struggling to talk loudly, she said: “Old people do not die, they get stronger. They live and give life. Nepali’s are strong and they will emerge as COVID warriors!”
Do not lose hope! Nepal will see the sunset of the pandemic!

(The author is director of Flash Freight and son of Teresa Murray)