First Indian novel coronavirus patient in China shows signs of recovery

New Delhi - She required Rs10 million for her treatment.

The first Indian to have diagnosed with Novel coronavirus by a hospital in China, Preeti Maheshwari, has started showing signs of recovery, her cousin Pratibha Maheshwari shared about her health conditions on Tuesday on social media.

Pratibha in her Facebook post, said: "Thank you so much for coming forward and helping with my cousin's treatment. Your generosity and prayers have helped her regain consciousness, and she is now undergoing wheelchair therapy. While it's a long road to recovery, doctors are hopeful she will be off the ventilator in the next 3-4 days. We have also managed to raise the requisite funds for her treatment, and are now closing all fund raising activity. Thank you once again for your kindness. Please continue to pray for her speedy recovery."

Preeti Maheshwari, a primary Art School Teacher in an international School of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China and a mother of two daughters, is suffering from coronavirus Pneumonia, Type 1 respiratory failure, Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS) and septic shock. She was admitted on January 11.
Preeti is currently undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit at Shekou Hospital in Shenzhen. 41-Year-old Preeti moved to China in 2017 for better career opportunity.

According to her relative Manish Thapa, she required 10 lakh Chinese Yuan that is Rs1 crore (Rs10 million) in Indian currency. Aware of the hefty cost, Thapa, an employee at Amazon, Bangalore, put an appeal on healthcare crowdfunding platform ImpactGuru.com. People came forward for help and Rs 36.72 lakh were raised within the span of 10 days.

As per doctors, Preeti's lungs have started showing signs of recovery, though she still continues to be on life support and critical care treatments. However, she is off ECMO machine (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) and she is conscious.

However Preeti continues to have a high fever, doctors have started a new dose of antibiotics and have wrapped her in ice blankets. They have taken fresh blood and body fluids samples for further tests for bacterial and virus infections. Preeti is currently on a ventilator, is being supported by external oxygen and dialysis and blood purification also continues.

"The doctors have started wheelchair therapy on Monday for 60 minutes in the morning and evening. Doctors are hopeful that based on the early signs of recovery in the lungs they may be able to remove the ventilator in a week." said Thapa while speaking with IANS.

• India