With the help of motivation from docs, family, Dhirajlal Desai spent 34 days fighting COVID, sepsis and other complications in hospital, kin say elated to see him recover after almost losing hope
Dhirajlal Desai at Breach Candy hospital
Amid the mayhem caused by COVID-19, 97-year-old Dhirajlal Desai’s recovery from the disease is a ray of hope for many. The south Mumbai resident fought COVID in the hospital for 34 days, including nine days in the ICU. He was discharged in the second week of April.
“Seven of our family members recovered from COVID-19 last year in October. We had taken all precautions for my grandfather. However, early in March, our worst fear came true when he caught a cold followed by fever,” said Mitul Desai, Dhirajlal’s grandson.
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Dhirajlal Desai at home on April 22. He was discharged from the hospital in the second week of April
Dhirajlal, who was actively helping Mitul handle accounts till the day he felt unwell, was shifted to Breach Candy Hospital with moderate COVID. “He developed sepsis and other complications. He was shifted to the ICU. He almost lost the hope to live when we started motivating him with daily calls. Doctors and medical staff had a lot to contribute in bringing him back to us,” said Mitul.
He said that amid the daily cases and deaths, his grandfather’s recovery could bring some cheer for all. “My grandfather’s story gives hope that survival is indeed possible if there is strong willpower and determination COVID can be defeated. Today he is singing a song. We are happy to see his recovery,” said Mitul.
‘Kept motivating him’
“While away from his family, Dhirajlal’s confidence was very low. We had to motivate him a lot. The staff fed him to maintain daily calorie intake. They also ensured he doesn’t develop any bedsores. I am happy that he went home smiling,” said Dr Pratit Samdhani, consulting physician under whom Desai was admitted. Dr Samdhani said that in the past three weeks, he has seen at least three patients aged above 90 years recover from COVID.
As per BMC data, since June 2020, of the 13,330 deaths reported in Mumbai, 12,240 are of people aged above 60.
Dr Avinash Supe, medical director of Hinduja Healthcare and head of the State Death Audit committee said mortality in senior citizens is around 18-20 per cent as compared to 1.5 per cent overall.
“It is the body’s reaction or cytokine storm that is the main cause behind the deaths. In elderly patients and patients having co-morbidities like diabetes and hypertension, cytokine storms are anyway high.
That’s why we are seeing more deaths in this age group. But if someone has good immunity and fighting spirit, we have seen people come out of the infection successfully,” said Dr Supe.
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