It seems like no matter where I go, I only see news about COVID-19. Well, I guess that’s unavoidable since it is one of the biggest things happening in Singapore and the world right now.
While all hope may seem lost because so many people have lost the battle against COVID-19, one 29-year-old patient in Singapore, known as Case 74, is taking this chance to remind those who have been infected that they’re not alone in this fight, and to stay strong.
He penned a three-page letter addressed to other patients to encourage them, and requested that the hospital he is warded in, Alexandra Hospital, help him translate the letter into other languages and to send them to all COVID-19 patients along with a stalk of sunflower paid for with his own money.
The hospital has since confirmed with The Straits Times that they are doing their best to help him with his request.
Chief executive of Alexandra Hospital, Dr Jason Phua, said, “People like this gentleman remind us that the four walls of an isolation room cannot hold humanity back. They inspire all healthcare workers to fight this battle with them, for them – and for all of us.”
“This Virus Doesn’t Pick its Patient.”
Case 74 is linked to the largest cluster of COVID-19 infections in Singapore, the Grace Assembly of God church.
He first noticed himself suffering from a headache before running a temperature. Later on, he developed more symptoms like a sore throat and a light cough, so he went to see a doctor on 12 February and 15 February. It was only on the second visit that he got warded.
Last week, he decided to dedicate a letter to those who were also infected by COVID-19 to encourage them and show his support for them, especially foreigners who do not have family support here.
He said, “This virus doesn’t pick its patient,” and despite not knowing who the other patients are, he wanted to “encourage them and provide them with resources to fight this virus confidently.”
When Case 74 was first confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19, he said that the “fear was intense” and he felt like “the first night in the isolation room was the longest night of my life”.
It was difficult for him to get enough rest in the beginning, so he spent most of his time praying and crying.
In the letter that he wrote, he understood that while “every patient’s condition is unique”, the “fear and anxiety over the unknown and the sense of hopelessness, isolation and loneliness sometimes attacking you more than the virus itself, are common”.
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He also wrote, “I feel that I am not alone because a lot of people, known and unknown to you, are rallying behind, supporting and praying for you. I want to share this letter with you and other fellow patients who have been hit with this strange virus, whoever and wherever you may be and come from.”
Road To Recovery
Other than his encouraging words, he also shared some of his own tips on how to better adjust to living as a COVID-19 patient. He started off with urging everyone to be good patients and to always communicate with the medical team so that the doctors and nurses can better assess their condition.
He also suggested bringing earphones and getting a “2-metre long mobile phone charging cable” so that you will be able to stay connected with your loved ones at all times.
He did, however, warn patients of social media because “there will be ‘noises which you must filter before they heap you with more anxiety”.
He added, “Wherever you may be warded, don’t stay bed-bound if you can. I took this time to clear the clutter in my brain and stand near my window around 5pm every day to enjoy the warmth of the sunset.”
Another tip he shared was to document one’s experiences in a journal. He wrote, “Put your experience to paper and let your loved ones, your children and future generations read about what you had gone through, what went through your mind and what insights you have drawn.”
“I really look forward to seeing my parents.”
Case 74 shared that right now, all he can think about is getting discharged. He told The Straits Times, “I really look forward to seeing my parents. I am so glad that they are asymptomatic at home.”
He also talked about how he was impressed with the doctors and nurses, and commended them for encouraging him with smiles on their faces despite them putting their own lives at risk.
He said, “I want to thank them for taking good care of me. I want to be able to see them without their (personal protective equipment) and thank them in person.”
Case 74 ends off his letter wishing every patient, including himself, “a full and quick recovery and discharge”.
It is heartwarming to see someone try to lift the spirits of others and to let them know that they’re not alone in this fight.
Goody Feed sincerely wishes all the patients a quick recovery as well. As for everyone else, stay safe!
If you want to read the full letter, here it is:
If you are reading this, you are also undergoing treatment for COVID-19 virus. My name is “Case XX” Before this admission, I am an ordinary Singaporea leading an ordinary life. On 15 Feb 2020, my life was changed forever. Today is the 7th day of my admission and tomorrow is Sunday. I long to be home with my family, my church and my friends, but I know my doctor and nurses need to do their job, monitoring my “oxygen saturation and levels via pulse oximetry” to ensure that I am well before I can be discharged. You will pick up a few medical jargon in a few days more than you can ever master in this lifetime. I feel that I am not alone because a lot of people, known and unknown to you, are rallying behind, supporting and praying for you.
I want to share this letter with you and other fellow patients who have been hit with this strange virus, whoever and wherever you may be and come from. A student, a foreign worker who is alone here with family miles away, a parent, a son, a tourist, or even a baby. The virus doesn’t choose its patient but you are not alone in the fight against this virus. I know every patient’s condition is unique, but fear and anxiety over the unknown and the sense of hopelessness, isolation and loneliness sometimes attacking you more than the virus itself, are common. How to keep calm and recuperate on? I hope to encourage you with my own experience so far.
Survival tips:
- Be a good patient: Work with the medical team closely. Communicate symptoms and tell them how your body is feeling. This is a strange virus and the temperature goes up and down. It feels like a flu and you don’t feel ill at first, but the symptoms will become more apparent and full blown over time. They say hospital food is the worst. But my chef has been the best. Not michelin-star but life-saving. Your taste buds are bland and appetite poor, but eat enough and take in nutrients and fluids (‘water’) to stay nourished. The nurses say “must store enough reserves to fight the virus”. I lost a bit of weight but feel detoxed and confident to fully recover. The swab tests can be painful but necessary. Don’t worry. They will clear those nose blockages. Regular vitals checks such as blood pressure and oxygen levels, a few times a day can be annoying. Be a good patient and not a grumpy one. Trust the doctor and the nurses taking care of you.
- You are not alone: Get a 2-metre long mobile phone charging cable. I charge up my handphone every day and put it to good use to stay connected with my loved ones who spur me on, and to keep updated with the latest development. Sign up for Wireless@SG. Keep in touch with an extended circle of friends, be it old or new, even work/school mates. Go slow on social media because there will be ‘noises’ which you must filter out before they heap you with more anxiety. Have a comfortable earpiece to chillax with music or video chat with your friends and loved ones. The Singapore Government is paying for hospital bills incurred by such as us in public hospitals. So don’t worry. All you need to worry about is yourself and your own recovery.
- Face up to it: I was shocked and ask ‘why me’ when I was first told that my result was ‘positive’. The first night in the isolation room was the longest night of my life. I couldn’t sleep. What helped me was reaching out to God, and telling myself that getting the virus is not a death sentence. Yes, it’s not mild. It’s something medical experts are still trying to find out more. Keeping updated with the death toll elsewhere in the world, doesn’t help. It will add on to anxiety and I have learnt from the medical team especially the nurses here that being happy and cheerful and free from worry, is the first step to recovery. The nurses, the housekeepers, my doctor, inspire me. They are in the thick of the action, but their happy faces and smiles bear no clue of their own fear. They lift my spirits daily, when they come to me, talk to me, clean my room and my toilet. To my surprise, they told me they also draw strength from patients. So medical treatment is not one-way.
- Enjoy Nature: Wherever you may be warded, don’t stay bedbound if you can. Get up and look away from the four walls. Look out through the window and if you are lucky enough to get a good view, nature definitely helps. Self-meditate, connect to your faith and reach out to the inner peace that is often forgotten as we rush about our daily chores when we are well. I took this time to clear the clutter in my brain and stand near my window around 5 pm every day to enjoy the warmth of the sunset. I look out to the greenery, enjoy the sun rays through the clear window glass, take in deep breaths and thank God I am alive and present.
- Keep a journal: You are ‘unlucky’ by the draw of the lot but also one of the ‘luckier’ ones in this part of the world, to survive this ‘viral’ experience. Put your experience to paper and let your loved ones, your children and future generations read about what you had gone through, what went through your mind and what insights you have drawn. I have started with this letter and I am now penning individual notes of thanks to each and every member of the medical team here for taking good care of me. I am AH’s first patient and I have promised them that I shall be the first to be discharged.
We have never met and maybe, we never will. I have asked AH to help me arrange a stalk of sunflower to go with my letter to other COVID-19 patients. I have also asked AH to help me translate my letter into three other languages (Chinese, Malay, Tamil) and Bengali. I sincerely wish myself and you a full and quick recovery and discharge. We are our first virtual patient support group for COVID-19. God bless you and God bless Singapore.
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