The Healers: Familial support

“I got pregnant right around the time when the pandemic hit last year. I had to take extra precautions of wearing double masks and a face shield in order to avoid any form of infection, not just for myself but for my baby as well.

A couple of weeks ago, I reported back for duties. Wearing a PPE for the first time was extremely uncomfortable; you can’t eat, drink or go to the washroom for hours at stretch. The other day, while seeing patients, I found this 34-year old on ventilator support, his condition was quite unstable and I fear that he might not make it. It sent me into a very dark mental space but I am thankful to my colleagues who have been a constant support to me during these times.

In the first wave, the older population was mostly getting affected; we still had an idea of when the patient was sinking and we could proceed to the required treatments accordingly. Now, the younger population has become more vulnerable. We see patients who are doing fine one moment and then are dead in the next hour. It has taken us completely off-guard and that is why managing the situation has become even more challenging.

The inability of the educated population to wear masks is disturbing and I would like to request everyone out there to wear a mask, even if you think there is no coronavirus and stay at home as much as possible. I would also like…