Coronavirus, loved ones and the risk in between
FANNE MWAMBI
Their mother developed an unusually high fever. What’s strange is that it did not concern them that she could have contracted coronavirus.
She complained of back pain and felt too nauseous to eat. And so she felt weaker as time went by.
They rushed her to hospital, desperate, hoping she would pull through the now gnawing pain she was experiencing.
She was their only surviving parent, and, well, the only one they knew. They would do anything to get her well.
What if it’s the coronavirus? They murmured among themselves, but no one would think beyond such a question.
The test
They went back home with a pneumonia diagnosis and advised to take the Covid-19 test.
They would do that the following day because mum was too exhausted from all the moving around.
Later that night, they managed to talk about it, perhaps in a teensy effort to accept it as a possibility.
“If she is, they could take her away.” She gasped, petrified by the very thought.
In isolation, their mum would never get the care she needed as no one would be allowed close to her.
She could die and we’d never see her again. “If she is, then we have all been exposed or infected,” her firstborn son whispered.
“We don’t have enough funds to test everyone. And it’s hard to know who else could be positive!”
There was a moment of dawning silence before he added, “We have already been exposed. Taking her away will not change the circumstance.
It will only depress her situation, and she could die alone.” Without another word, a decision was made.
They quietly turned to their sides and cradled their pillows.
Choosing family
What would you do in such a situation? Would you risk it to give your loved ones the care they need, or would you rather they fight it alone in isolation?
Many families now face this situation and silently opt to care for their loved ones at home.
With the current health state of the country, we may have to brave Covid-19 head-on.
