Expat fought Covid-19 for 51 days, with 2% chance of survival

Ras Al Khaimah - 'I know some people here and back home who did not make it'

When 39-year-old Meyakhail Abdullah tested positive for Covid-19, doctors had been frank and told him his chance of surviving the disease was only two per cent.
Abdullah held on to every bit of hope but he wasn't worried at all. "I knew I was being carefully treated in the UAE, my second home."
The Sharjah resident, who hails from Kabul in Afghanistan, said he was feeling fine until he got a high-grade fever on the 15th day of the holy month of Ramadan.
"I went to the pharmacy and took some medicine to lower my body temperature but to no avail. It kept rising, my entire body ached, and I could not even open my eyes."
An ambulance was called to the apartment where he was staying. "I was first taken to Al Qasimi hospital and then to the Ibrahim Obaidullah Hospital."
At that time, he had already developed pneumonia, so he was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit. He was in a lot of pain, he said.

"The severe pain I experienced was unbearable to the extent that I thought I was not going to survive. I know some people here and back home who did not make it."
Even the medical team who treated hin was "extremely worried", he said, as they told him that he had a very slim chance of overcoming the virus.
Abdullah, who has been in the country for 22 years now, did not know how to tell his family in Kabul that he was severely ill.
"My wife and two sons, 8 and 15 years old, were so worried about me because my mobile was off during the entire treatment journey. They learnt about my Covid-19 infection only a few days before the end of my full recovery."

His family was able to heave a sigh of relief after confirming that he was out of danger.

Abdullah, a company driver, was also thankful that he had a job to go back to. "My boss and colleagues were worried about me, but everything was fine, Alhamdulil-Allah. I returned to work after recovering completely."

"Words are not enough to also thank the UAE leadership and people for their support and care during my treatment and full recovery from this terrible virus," he added.

Looking back on the unimaginable ordeal, the expat hoped no one else would have to go through such a difficult time. He advised everyone to observe all precautionary measures not only to protect themselves but also to keep others safe.

"Wearing face masks when outdoors, washing your hands frequently, using hand sanitisers, avoiding gatherings, and observing social distancing are very important rules the everyone must comply with," Abdullah said.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Ras Al Khaimah