'Sumedha Sharma'
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sumedha–haryana–Covid comes with Social Stigma : Covid survivor interview
Sumedha Sharma
Tribune News Service
Gurugram, April 02
” Pleas don’t write my name or share my picture. I battled the Covid monster which has left entire world scared and was too eager to tell my story but I didn’t realise that this disease will change my life this way. Many people have already stopped talking to us and some even dash away seeing me making me feel I am a bomb. We have videos from people abroad welcoming Covid survivors but India still needs to change.People are celebrating Covid warriors hope we could instill same feelings for Covid survivors like me,” says 29 Year old resident of sector 83 Gurugram. Tested positive for Covid this Charted Accountant was discharged yesterday after recovering and testing negative he and feels that last fifteen days have been life changing for him. back from an official trip to UK his test reports came as s hock to him and his wife.
” I came back on March 18 and was fit as per airport screening. I started feeling a bit uneasy at night called doctor and was asked to get myself screened and to my utter shock the test was positive. So was my family. Rather than brooding on it we flung into action and I immediately ran to hospital. i did not have much symptoms and this gave doctors and me hope. My wife too was tested and she tested negative, that gave me bit of strength,” he says.
Calling life in isolation ward toughest part of his Covid battle he says that remaining positive and maintaining a will to live is toughest challenge.
” i was better in terms of symptoms as compared to others . The moment you step in isolation ward uncertainty of your return starts taking toll on you. My doctors an other staff kept me positive but I was my fight with myself. i would get scared each night buty forced myslef to think and plan about life after this. Covid made me value a lot of things in life that i took for granted,” added the survivor.
The residential society he lives in supported family ensuring his wife had all essentials while alone in quarantine but the moment he decided to come out in open and share his experience the attitude of people changed.
” yes this was an infection that I recovered from but everybody is so scared of the Covid that I am kind of an outcast as if now. With time when more people recover share their stories I am sure the doubts will clear. I just hope that some efforts are taken to spread awareness about Covid survivors and they be no threatening,” he concludes.
Regards
Sumedha Sharma
Senior Correspondent
The Tribune
09910813939
