Lying in a hospital bed a year ago, away from his loved ones and watching in sombre silence the dance of death playing out around him, Arun Sharma sometimes wondered about the fragility of life. To keep himself distracted, the 47-year-old stock trader would look out the window near his bed. That window became his connect with the outside world, a retreat from where he could imagine better days.

Sharma, who is from Chennai, tested positive for Covid-19 in May 2021 and had to be admitted to hospital for treatment after his condition worsened. He was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis caused by the SARS-CoV-2, a condition characterised by scarring of the air sacs in the lungs that makes it difficult for the organ to absorb oxygen. Apart from the physical impact, the episode also affected his emotional well-being. But Sharma focussed on staying optimistic, which helped in the healing.

How it started

“My parents, brother and brother’s wife tested positive for Covid in Bengaluru in mid-April 2021, when there was a surge of cases,” says Sharma, a father of two. “Since my parents were quite ill and it was difficult for them to manage, I went there from Chennai to help them out. In about a week, their health started slowly improving.

“After a few days, I developed fever and was initially taking paracetamol tablets to bring it down. Two days later, the fever hadn’t subsided. So, I decided to get the Covid test done. When the results came back after two days, it was confirmed that I was positive for coronavirus. Meanwhile, I contacted a physician through online consultation, and was prescribed a higher dose of medications for the fever and other supplements. But the fever was now going up to 102-103 degrees Celsius and I started having difficulty breathing.”

Sharma’s heart rate shot up to 145 and even a slight exertion would cause severe shortness of breath. His oxygen levels dropped rapidly. After Sharma was admitted to Sakra World Hospital, Bengaluru, he was put on medications and given oxygen therapy.

“I had to keep the oxygen mask on at all times, because breathing without it became very difficult,” he says. “I also had an incessant cough. There were three people in the ward where I was assigned a bed and I could see many other Covid patients in a large ward right across from our ward. Removing the oxygen mask and walking even 10 feet to the toilet felt like someone was holding my nose shut. I would time myself and quickly go and come in two minutes. Eating was difficult for the same reason and there was no appetite.

“Seeing someone being carried out in a body bag almost every day was extremely depressing. Once I saw a man sitting in a bed close to me loosen his special oxygen mask, which was tightly fitted on his face since his condition was worse than mine. In a few seconds, he just collapsed and all efforts to revive him were in vain.

“You keep thinking it would be your turn next. At such times, a lot of dark thoughts come to mind.”

Recovery

Meanwhile, doctors were treating him for pulmonary fibrosis with medications. The damage to his lungs delayed recovery. After he was prescribed Remdesivir, his condition started improving.

The patient next to him in hospital, a man from Manipur, about the same age as him, was an immense help. Both of them would converse in sign language, motivate each other to eat well and take care of their health. Sharma would also read books, listen to music on his phone and communicate with his family regularly.

After 10 days he was discharged from hospital and asked to recuperate at home. He was asked to continue pulmonary rehabilitation for a few months to strengthen lungs and to stabilise his breathing.

At first, for someone who used to run and walk about 10km every day, walking even a few metres was like climbing a hill. But Sharma is much better now — exactly a year since his diagnosis.

“This pandemic has made me look at life a little differently,” he says. “Keep your trust in the people who are treating you. I got a second chance, so I want to make use of that and lead a more meaningful life than before. Things can go from good to bad quickly, so live every moment.”