Corona Diaries - 5

I parked near gate number 7 of Jaber Hospital. Picked up my luggage and pictured myself heading to the airport for a 2 week vacation. I imagined I was going to beautiful Aberdeen, that’s where I got my medical degree, where I started running, where I was always happy. Aberdeen was my happy place.

I headed to the main reception and gave them my civil ID. I was advised to wait while they made their calls to see where I was supposed to go. Ward 17, that was my destination. A porter and nurse kindly helped with my bags and I walked the long walk to my room. I realised how short of breath I was becoming during the 10-minute walk. The N95 mask wasn’t helping either. I was taken to Room 10 and that’s my current home. I have not left since I entered.

It’s a good-sized room with big windows. I had a wonderful view of Kuwait City and south surra streets. I couldn’t see my house unfortunately because that was on the other side of the building. I took off my N95 and it took me around 15 minutes to catch my breath and breathe normally again. I started unpacking. I put my own sheets and pillowcase; as well as my comforter. I made mental notes of things that I had forgotten to bring. I needed a cushion for the seat and hoodies. I also had forgotten to get tissues and a mug. As I was organising the room; trying to make it feel like home, the nursing staff entered to take my vitals. I have never been admitted to hospital before, so I was getting to see what a patient went through as soon as they were admitted to hospital. I had a temperature, but other than that I was good.

They brought me food and it looked edible. I sat in the chair and started eating. I realised at that moment that I was unable to taste anything. Just part of the corona flu I thought. After that, I got up to spray the room with air freshener and that’s when I realised that I couldn’t smell anything at all. I remember reading that anosmia was a very common symptom. I had also read that it might last up to 3 weeks but that it was reversible. The anosmia somewhat distressed me more than anything else. I love perfumes and associate different perfumes with different countries I’ve travelled to and different occasions. So, the fact that I suddenly lost the ability to smell traumatised me. Then I thought, people go through traumas and lose their eyesight or their hearing and that gave my situation tolerable.

The oncall doctor came in and introduced himself. He asked about my medical history; I had none thankfully apart from my gastritis and duodenitis, which was secondary to my constant stress and cold brew intake. I wasn’t on any regular medications apart from dexilant and had no allergies. These were all questions that I asked my patients constantly; I had never been the patient myself. He told me that they needed to do a chest X-ray and take routine lab investigations and that I would be started on vitamin C tablets in the meantime. He examined my chest and said that it sounded fine.

Then the nurse came in to take my blood. I have horrible veins. They’re very obvious and blue to look at, but unfortunately are very fine and are difficult to get any blood from. The nurse tried three times before being able to fill the many bottles she needed. I still have my 3 bruises from that day. That made me think of my elderly patients, when they would refuse blood tests saying that their blood was dropping due to the many blood investigations. Being a patient makes you appreciate your patients that much more. You feel what they feel and you can start to feel the loneliness and pain. I have found out that being a patient myself has made me more aware of every complaint that my patients ever had in the past or will have in the future.

I went back to my chair and started speaking to my family and friends and everyone that was so worried. I started answering the millions of texts and tweets that I had received. One of my friends put up one of my photos on her instagram account, wishing me well. Within a few hours, I was on so many news and social media accounts. Every time I tried to answer the messages, new ones would pile up. I received so many calls; everyone was so concerned. I felt loved and cared for and thanked Allah for putting so many beautiful people in my path.

I started thinking of all the patients I had seen over the years. I had taken care of so many sick ones, as well as comforting their relatives. I had spent so many sleepless hours in every hospital all over Kuwait during my medical board years. Was this how I was paid back? I was showered with so much love and prayers from all over Kuwait. I must have done something right throughout my medical career.

The best wishes were from the people I didn’t know. So many random people texted and said I had treated a father or a mother sometime during my short career. I received a message from one of my current patient‘s daughter in Amiri, she said her mother had been continuously asking about me and couldn’t stop praying for me when she found out I was sick. I received messages from current students at Kuwait University, those that I had taught over the past year, all wishing me well and telling me they were upset to hear the news. I also received so many messages from my colleagues, all asking whether I needed anything and wishing me well.

I felt loved, blessed and in a good place. I was so lucky to have so many people care for me. People are blessed with one family and I was blessed with so many families, I was blessed with the love of my whole country.

I went to sleep that night, not feeling alone anymore.

I had survived my first night in Jaber Hospital.