It all began a few months ago with seemingly obscure reports of a newly discovered virus in China
As news filtered in, some paid attention, but for most it seemed a distant worry
My hope of the bug not surviving rising temperatures soon burst into flames when the virus not only survived but thrived, rapidly spreading from host to host, country to country, traversing latitudes and longitudes
Within days it turned from a possibility to an absolute certainty
All too soon it appeared to be threatening the wellness of the masses and embroiled the physically vulnerable in a battle for survival
Just as we were beginning to prepare ourselves, the epidemic evolved into a pandemic at a speed and proportion never witnessed before in our lifetime
The world then sat up and began to pay heed
Some governments sprang into action to mobilise resources and inform the masses
Pakistan fortunately activated its systems sooner than many others and COVID-19 centres were identified, with ours being one of the first
Overnight protocols were created and staffing was arranged
Little did we know that the unprecedented magnitude of the situation would bring with it mayhem of even greater proportion
Walking up the ramp to my clinic, I finally came across patients who were scattered across the waiting area, some trying to keep their distance, others huddled on benches wearing masks, and the rest queued up, anxiously waiting for their turn to speak to the masked and gloved staff
With possible contagion all around me, I too donned a mask and walked over to join my colleagues
At the clinic counter I found the staff nurse being pulled in different directions, so I stepped in to answer the queries of the people lined up
Every story I heard was peppered with emotions and reactions to match
There were passengers that came directly from airports while some wanted clearance to travel
I saw patients who were sick and others who were anticipating the illness
There were dozens who were anxious family members, others who had fleeting encounters with a possible patient
All of them desperately sought answers and reassurances
Over the coming days our primary care doctors and nurses teamed up to screen and swab countless patients following rapidly changing guidelines
The rising volumes made separating the anxious from those truly at risk an enormous task for all of us
We were fortunate to have protective gear that we donned with meticulous care
We practiced obsessive levels of hand hygiene to minimise the risk of getting the virus and taking it back home to our families
As I moved through these days in a daze, I witnessed emotions and behaviors on my side of the queue counter as well
I saw anxiety and apprehension, I saw courage and camaraderie
I witnessed the self-assured succumb to fear and I saw the meek become the mighty in this surreal time
Soon the cavalry started shrinking
Some of the staff succumbed to exhaustion, others with prior illnesses could not work in high risk areas anymore, and some who had been exposed to infected patients went into quarantine
The remaining few had to quickly re-calibrate and, fortunately, God graced them with the shutting down of towns and thinning out of crowds, for a bit
What sustained us during that time and continues to do so every day are the prayers and well-wishes from our family and friends who lend us their support during an extraordinary time
As I reflect upon these days a few constants have emerged from this chaos created by the pandemic
Confusion was the first constant, caused by the novelty of the disease and the rapidly evolving information
Anxiety and fear were the second constant, found not only in patients but also healthcare providers worried about their own safety and that of their loved ones
When I now look back, it has been weeks since I hugged my children or sat in the same room with my mother because of this fear
Through all this confusion and fear some ‘other’ constants have emerged too
The first being an unwavering sense of duty seen in the medical staff that continues to triumph over their fatigue and battled burnout
The second constant has been the creation of new bonds and respect for colleagues old and new, senior or junior
The most admirable constant in my mind, however, is the tenacious grit and courage that has allowed some to subjugate their fears and inspire others
We continue to be in the midst of a catastrophe never seen before
We are unsure of its middle and uncertain about its end, however, it is these ‘other’ constants and characteristics of the human spirit displayed by several ordinary yet remarkable individuals that will help us emerge triumphantly from this crisis
Date: | 14-Apr-2020 | Reference: | View Original Link |
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