#NextStopZero: 'My survival is a miracle and also a warning to all'

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COMEBACK: Sanshad Abdul Gafoor came back from the jaws of death after Covid-19 caused life-threatening multiple organ failures.

In June, the 33-year-old Al Ain resident, weighing 153kg, suffered from fever and breathlessness.

by

Ashwani Kumar

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Published: Sat 26 Sep 2020, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Sun 27 Sep 2020, 7:21 PM

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all of us in one way or another. Some of us are mourning the loss of a loved one, while others are trying to make ends meet after losing their jobs or taking a pay cut. The UAE is gradually restoring normalcy even as it reminds residents that the threat is far from over. Through this two-week series, Khaleej Times will feature residents who have endured a loss due to the virus, to remind you that the alarming surge in daily cases is more than just a number. #NextStopZero is a rallying call to get the community to adopt safe practices so as to bring down the infection rate.
Sanshad Abdul Gafoor, a severe Covid-19 patient with life-threatening multiple organ failure, has come back from the jaws of death. And his recovery is nothing short of a miracle.
In June, the 33-year-old Al Ain resident, weighing 153kg, suffered from fever and breathlessness. He was admitted to Al Ain Hospital and a test confirmed he had contracted the coronavirus. When his condition worsened, he was shifted to intensive care unit (ICU) and put on ventilator. Later, he suffered kidney and lung failure, pneumonia, a septic shock and other complications. Worse, his pregnant wife and kid too were also detected with the virus. Today, all of them are out of the critical stage.
Gafoor feels that he owes his "second life" to the dedicated frontline health workers, doctors, nurses and staff of Al Ain Hospital and their prayers as well as that of his family. "My heart sank as I learnt that I will be placed on ventilator. None of the people I knew had returned while undergoing ventilator support. I phoned my wife and bade her goodbye. I controlled my emotions and never wanted her to know it could be our last conversation. I said my last prayers before being put on ventilator," he recalled.
"But, I had given my wife's phone number for emergency contact. The hospital staff called to inform her that my lungs and kidneys had failed and that I was sinking. I had pneumonia. My wife called family members."
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (Ecmo) procedure - use of a heart-lung bypass machine when lungs fail - was considered. The option of shifting Gafoor from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi's Cleveland Clinic in an air ambulance was also weighed, but experts felt he may not survive the journey.
"I had abnormal heart rate and risked a cardiac arrest. The doctors and nurses continued tireless efforts. Everyone was praying. And after 92 hours, my lungs slowly returned to 10 per cent capacity. As many as 19 dialysis were carried out because I suffered acute kidney failure. Amid this, I had a septic shock."
After weeks of critical care, his lungs started to function at 70 per cent capacity. But then he suffered pulmonary embolism - a blood clot in the lungs. A determined effort from the medical team and world-class treatment ensured that Gafoor woke back to life after 40 days.
"I was in a trance. It felt like a year. When I woke up, I had issues with my memory. I had forgotten alphabets and numbers. I thought many family members had died. The nurses comforted me and put me on a video call with my wife and brother."
They treated me like a child
Gafoor attributes his magical recovery to the efforts of doctors, nurses and prayers. "I moved from the ICU to the general ward in a few days thanks to the support of medical staff. We say nurses are angels, I felt it for real. They always prayed for my life. They looked after me like I was a child."
Gafoor had a stable recovery and the physiotherapy team made him walk again in two weeks. "I got discharged last month. I lost 20kg. I will always be grateful to the medical staff. I have seen God in them."
Gafoor has gone back to his job. His company paid him full salary for the months he was in hospital. "They wanted me back alive at all costs. They promised to pay for the air ambulance. When my pregnant wife and child were in isolation, my colleague ensured food and there was no dearth of moral support."
Gafoor urges community members to be extra cautious as Covid-19 remains a deadly opponent. "I survived a critical condition like sepsis. Doctors said I got infected with a mutated virus from a person with severe symptoms. It led to my health worsening rapidly and affecting different organs. Now, I am on a six-month medication and on the path of a recovery for the next two years. Please stay safe."
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com 


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