Couple’s triumph after testing positive
Njeri Maina @njerimainar
At the beginning of July this year, Geoffrey Alemba, a protocol officer in an international organisation in Nairobi was suffering from severe fever.
He did not think much of it, hence he suffered through it for two more nights before seeking treatment on July 3 upon his wife, Sylvie’s insistence. The tests showed he had an acute bacterial infection.
He was put on medication and went back home. By Monday July 5, the symptoms worsened , with a backache setting in.
When he began exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms such as nausea and dry throat he decided to seek treatment on July 8, with Sylvie offering to drive him to the hospital.
His wife stayed with him as the doctors conducted a battery of tests, ranging from CT Scans to blood tests.
The last test was the nose swab whose results were expected to come out in 24 hours.
Geoffrey was admitted and put on isolation, while Sylvie drove home, only to be arrested on her way there for staying out past curfew hours.
After a tense twenty-four hours wait, Geoffrey was diagnosed positive.
Death sentence
“I remember breaking down after receiving the diagnosis. All I could remember immediately the doctor stepped out was the constant mention of death and Covid-19 in the same breath. It felt like a death sentence,” Geoffrey explains.
Geoffrey was also in shock as he had been careful both at work and at home.
He was the guy who would always have a mask on, and was a vocal advocate for social distancing measures, putting on masks, hand washing and using sanitisers.
He called his wife immediately after his diagnosis and urged her to get tested. Sylvie tested positive, but with no symptoms.
After two days, his symptoms worsened, which necessitated him to be put on oxygen for four days.
His doctor told him he was being treated for pneumonia and was put on drip for 10 of the 12 days he was admitted due to loss of appetite.
His body responded well to treatment and he stabilised enough for the second Covid test to be done before being released from hospital.
The test came out positive and they opted for home-based care.
Sylvie had to prove that their home was fit to accommodate an ailing patient without posing a risk to other people, as per the Ministry of Health home care guidelines.
Discharged
Sylvie rearranged their second bedroom and bathroom into his quarantine quarters, bought paper plates and cups to prevent cross infection and he was discharged armed with multi-vitamins and an inhaler.
“First of all, if it wasn’t for God, it would have been worse. I thank him for life and for Sylvie.
Sylvie has been supportive. She would cook for me masked and wearing gloves, place the food and drinks for me in disposable plates and cups, and gave me emotional support via phone through it all,” Geoffrey enthuses.
Geoffrey just finished using his inhaler two weeks ago, though he is still on multi-vitamins for an immunity boost.
Four tests later, he has tested negative twice and is back to work. After five tests, his wife is also negative and back to work too.
“People at the office have been supportive. I cannot say I have been stigmatised on that end.
Our landlord and neighbours have also been kind and supportive. Of course, there is that fear that you can almost feel emanating from friends. There is also this one incident which I find more hilarious than hurtful.
I had parked my car in a place where the guard knows me. He came to check the car and on seeing me, quickly pulled up his mask, which had been lying on his chin and took off without a word,” he further elaborates.
Alemba is still a passionate advocate for people to practice the MOH guidelines for Covid-19 prevention.
He is testament to the fact that Covid is real; he has a sizeable dent in his finances to show for it.
He talks of the need to care for others as one can be asymptomatic and easily spread it to others.
He talks with reverence of the doctors and nurses who walked him to recovery.
“Seeing the nurses sweating and still smiling in their PPEs as they took care of us was quite humbling.
One nurse told us of how the neighbour’s children run away from her whenever they spot her since they know she works with Covid patients.
“Knowing that there are all these people who stand between the ailing and certain death is quite sobering.
If for no other reason, they should inspire you to be better just so you do not unnecessarily risk their lives.
This whole experience has made me be want to be kinder and to be gentle towards other people and their experiences.
You never know what someone has gone through. Even when they share it, you may not grasp its full depth or breadth,” he concludes.
