Even though it香蕉视频直播檚 tough for him to breathe and talk, Atish Ram is using his voice to tell people about how COVID-19 nearly killed him.

The Surrey resident, 58, is back home after fighting the virus during a difficult eight weeks in hospital.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 lucky to be alive,香蕉视频直播� said Ram, who called his stay at Royal Columbian 香蕉视频直播渁 roller coaster ride香蕉视频直播� complicated by pneumonia.

Last fall, Ram was named during the annual Surrey Community Leader awards.

Months later, his family香蕉视频直播檚 dream trip to Toronto to almost didn香蕉视频直播檛 happen, after Ram had emergency surgery to take care of blockages in his heart.

By late March, he was diagnosed with the coronavirus.

香蕉视频直播淚 believe I got it when I went to a grocery store 香蕉视频直播� I don香蕉视频直播檛 want to say which one, but I was so vigilant,香蕉视频直播� Ram said. 香蕉视频直播淚 went to my doctor on March 16, and he told me about how crazy this virus was, to be vigilant. So a few days later I went to the store, just 15 minutes in and out, but at the time there were no social distancing or anything, nothing like we see now. That was the only place I went, and a few days later I started getting a fever, some symptoms.香蕉视频直播�

to read the latest news about COVID-19.

In a phone interview, the Newton-area resident talked slowly and paused occasionally.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 still so hard to breathe,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 on home oxygen 香蕉视频直播� three to six months of this, at least, because my lungs are at only 25 per cent capacity now,香蕉视频直播� he added. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 trying to gain some of my strength back by walking, but it香蕉视频直播檚 really hard to go for any length of time.香蕉视频直播�

His battle with COVID-19 caused him to lose close to 30 pounds over the past three months.

香蕉视频直播淚 want to share my story because I want to tell people how this virus almost killed me, and that the virus is still out there,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd until there香蕉视频直播檚 a vaccine, nobody is safe. And I could get this again, if it香蕉视频直播檚 a mutated version or something.香蕉视频直播�

In March, his laboured breathing led to a chest X-ray, a positive COVID test and, eventually, admission to Royal Columbian, where Ram香蕉视频直播檚 cardiac doctor was located.

香蕉视频直播淎t that time, all the nurses and doctors were scared to even come into my room, for fear of catching COVID,香蕉视频直播� he recalled.

香蕉视频直播淚t was a weird time, and I was there for three days in the COVID ward, I got really, really bad,香蕉视频直播� Ram added. 香蕉视频直播淚 just laid in bed, couldn香蕉视频直播檛 do anything 香蕉视频直播� my family couldn香蕉视频直播檛 come to see me and that was hard. I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 even get up out of bed. That Sunday I was getting really bad, I rang the bell at 3 in the morning and said to the nurse, 香蕉视频直播業 can香蕉视频直播檛 breathe.香蕉视频直播� It was just like somebody sitting on your chest and pouring water on your face, that香蕉视频直播檚 how bad it was, like drowning.香蕉视频直播�

Ram was rushed back to ICU, where doctors told him his lungs were filled with fluid.

香蕉视频直播淭hey managed to stabilize me,香蕉视频直播� Ram said, 香蕉视频直播渁nd hooked me up to all these monitors and IVs. I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 allowed water because the one nurse said they were going to intubate me that night. He said, 香蕉视频直播榃hen we do that, you香蕉视频直播檙e pretty much going to be in a coma and you may not come out of it. Your lungs are really bad. I going to be honest with you, you need to make a phone call and say what you need to say to your wife and kids, because it could be the last things you say. I don香蕉视频直播檛 want to scare you but I want to be truthful with you.香蕉视频直播� I just laid there and thought, 香蕉视频直播業s this it?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Somehow, Ram香蕉视频直播檚 condition improved enough that wasn香蕉视频直播檛 required.

香蕉视频直播淲hen two guys came in to do an X-ray the following morning, I thought it was all a dream.香蕉视频直播�

During his 53 days in hospital, Ram kept failing subsequent COVID tests. He needed three negative tests in a row, but doctors couldn香蕉视频直播檛 figure out why the virus wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 leave his body.

Finally, it did.

The ordeal took a toll on him both physically and mentally.

香蕉视频直播淚 was alone for so much of that time, just very brief visits by nurses or doctors, but only when they absolutely needed to,香蕉视频直播� Ram explained.

He says despite the relaxation of some measures to combat the virus, people need to remain vigilant.

香蕉视频直播淚f people think they香蕉视频直播檙e resilient and aren香蕉视频直播檛 going to get it, they may not have any symptoms but they could have it and give it to someone who has an underlying condition, such as asthma, and it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter how old you are,香蕉视频直播� Ram said.

香蕉视频直播淭here was a 30-year-old school teacher who came into ICU and he had a massive stroke, and he was COVID-positive, but had no symptoms. I also saw people who didn香蕉视频直播檛 make it, but some walked out of there fine.

香蕉视频直播淚 say to all my friends who香蕉视频直播檝e contacted me, I say look, think of every person that you see has COVID, right, because you don香蕉视频直播檛 know if that person has it or not, and you could be passing it along to someone else and do a lot of damage unintentionally.香蕉视频直播�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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