'I failed my family': Doctor's heartfelt note after testing coronavirus positive is heartbreaking

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, May 28

A doctor, who had tested positive for coronavirus, wrote a heartfelt note after he exposed his family to the deadly disease.

He talked about how infecting his family made him feel guilty.

Sharing the incident on the Facebook page of Humans of Bombay, the doctor said even after the pandemic broke out, he continued to treat his patients and followed all precautions. Yet, he ended up getting infected with the virus.

“After Covid-19 broke out, I knew my patients needed me more than ever. So I kept going to work, seeing 5-10 patients everyday. I was out of the house for 10 hours, and took every precaution for my family’s safety.

But on March 18th, I got a fever. I’d seen it coming, but when my wife got a fever too, I was worried. We both started medication–she got better, but my condition worsened. I shivered all night, lost my appetite and started burning up. So I got myself tested- and it was positive”.

“My wife was terrified. On our way to the hospital, I told her, ‘We have to be strong to fight this’. I asked to get herself and our daughter tested. The next day, I saw them in the Covid Ward– that broke me. I felt so guilty. As a doctor, I’d done everything in my power to help my patients, but I felt like I’d failed my own family”.

“Fortunately, they were both asymptomatic, but everyday, I checked their reports. From time to time, I’d see my daughter too! She’d smile and wave through the glass whenever she passed by. It felt good, even if I wasn’t with her. It gave me hope that we’d get through it together.

The hospital made our recovery easy–and within a week, we were both discharged. But my wife kept testing positive and was still at the hospital.

In all honesty, that time apart was the most stressful”.

“Every time her recovery got extended, she felt low. So I’d joke, ‘Come back already! You have so much work to do!’ And she’d laugh a little.

But I was restless and couldn’t wait to see her. No one knew why she still tested positive, so that added to our anxiety”.

“But our neighbours were really helpful. They sent us cooked meals everyday via the lift, so my daughter and I didn’t have to stress over food. But we were constantly worried about my wife–we just wanted her to test negative. Finally, on her fourth attempt, she tested negative and could come home”.

“She was discharged on Easter, so one of our neighbours sent us a grand meal. And as soon as my wife set foot in the door, I greeted her with, ‘Welcome home boss!’

She was weak, but smiled softly–and I knew that we’d be okay. We’d beat the virus and were finally together”.

“As a doctor who’s survived this virus up close and personal, only I know the days I’ve had, constantly worrying about my family and patients. Truth is, it doesn’t spare anyone. Still, we must continue the fight– humanity has been through pandemics before, but we’ve always won. And we will this time too”.

The post has collected over 7,000 ‘likes’ since being shared on Facebook.