Even though itB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 lucky to be alive,B次元官网网址� said Ram, who called his stay at Royal Columbian B次元官网网址渁 roller coaster rideB次元官网网址� complicated by pneumonia.

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

Months later, his familyB次元官网网址檚 dream trip to Toronto to almost didnB次元官网网址檛 happen, after Ram had emergency surgery to take care of blockages in his heart.

By late March, he was diagnosed with the coronavirus.

B次元官网网址淚 believe I got it when I went to a grocery store B次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 want to say which one, but I was so vigilant,B次元官网网址� Ram said. B次元官网网址淚 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.B次元官网网址�

to read the latest news about COVID-19.

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

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 still so hard to breathe,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 on home oxygen B次元官网网址� three to six months of this, at least, because my lungs are at only 25 per cent capacity now,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 trying to gain some of my strength back by walking, but itB次元官网网址檚 really hard to go for any length of time.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淚 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,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd until thereB次元官网网址檚 a vaccine, nobody is safe. And I could get this again, if itB次元官网网址檚 a mutated version or something.B次元官网网址�

In March, his laboured breathing led to a chest X-ray, a positive COVID test and, eventually, admission to Royal Columbian, where RamB次元官网网址檚 cardiac doctor was located.

B次元官网网址淎t that time, all the nurses and doctors were scared to even come into my room, for fear of catching COVID,B次元官网网址� he recalled.

B次元官网网址淚t was a weird time, and I was there for three days in the COVID ward, I got really, really bad,B次元官网网址� Ram added. B次元官网网址淚 just laid in bed, couldnB次元官网网址檛 do anything B次元官网网址� my family couldnB次元官网网址檛 come to see me and that was hard. I couldnB次元官网网址檛 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, B次元官网网址業 canB次元官网网址檛 breathe.B次元官网网址� It was just like somebody sitting on your chest and pouring water on your face, thatB次元官网网址檚 how bad it was, like drowning.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淭hey managed to stabilize me,B次元官网网址� Ram said, B次元官网网址渁nd hooked me up to all these monitors and IVs. I wasnB次元官网网址檛 allowed water because the one nurse said they were going to intubate me that night. He said, B次元官网网址榃hen we do that, youB次元官网网址檙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 donB次元官网网址檛 want to scare you but I want to be truthful with you.B次元官网网址� I just laid there and thought, B次元官网网址業s this it?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Somehow, RamB次元官网网址檚 condition improved enough that wasnB次元官网网址檛 required.

B次元官网网址淲hen two guys came in to do an X-ray the following morning, I thought it was all a dream.B次元官网网址�

During his 53 days in hospital, Ram kept failing subsequent COVID tests. He needed three negative tests in a row, but doctors couldnB次元官网网址檛 figure out why the virus wouldnB次元官网网址檛 leave his body.

Finally, it did.

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

B次元官网网址淚 was alone for so much of that time, just very brief visits by nurses or doctors, but only when they absolutely needed to,B次元官网网址� Ram explained.

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

B次元官网网址淚f people think theyB次元官网网址檙e resilient and arenB次元官网网址檛 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 doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter how old you are,B次元官网网址� Ram said.

B次元官网网址淭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 didnB次元官网网址檛 make it, but some walked out of there fine.

B次元官网网址淚 say to all my friends whoB次元官网网址檝e contacted me, I say look, think of every person that you see has COVID, right, because you donB次元官网网址檛 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.B次元官网网址�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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