An open letter from Covid-19 survivor, Jinny Varkey

I never thought Covid-19 would affect the lives of my loved ones and me in the way it has. Since the beginning of the pandemic we were sure it would pay us a visit as my wife works in healthcare, but we expected it to be kind to us.

As the lockdown was setting in with rising infections around mid-April, and one of our friends was taken ill, we started feeling the pandemic getting closer to us.

Our fears became real when my wife started showing symptoms and there were positive cases reported at her workplace. While she was isolating and waiting for her test results, which came out positive, I too began developing symptoms.

It started with a fever which persisted throughout my illness. My temperature was soaring high and would subside only for a while under medication. This was concerning, but the advice from my GP was to wait unless any breathing difficulty was experienced. We waited, and my wife, whose symptoms got better, monitored me regularly.

On the eighth day, we noticed that the oxygen levels in my blood were dropping. Paramedics were called and I was very quickly admitted to Winchester hospital during the early hours of 30 April.

Though there wasn’t a lot to worry about when first admitted, my condition deteriorated rapidly. With each passing hour, my breathing difficulty worsened, and I was moved into critical care the very next day. 

I was initially put on a non-invasive ventilator but as my situation further deteriorated I was moved on to an invasive ventilator on 3 May. None of these measures improved my condition so from there I was transferred to Guys and St Thomas hospital in London, where I was treated with further life support and medication. By the time I regained consciousness it was 11 May.

I was greeted with the good news that I had made it through the most challenging part. Thanks to the NHS, my lungs, which completely collapsed due to Covid-19, were slowly recovering.

From there I spent two further weeks back at Winchester hospital in rehabilitation undergoing Physiotherapy.

I was finally discharged on 27 May and after one whole gruesome month; I was back at my lovely home with my caring family. The moment when I was able to go home is the most treasured moment in my life.

I felt I accomplished a lot by being back on my feet in less than three weeks after being on ventilator support, but I knew the time for a full recovery could take up to a year. Through the months that followed I was supported by some brilliant Physiotherapists and with their help, I was able to reach a stage where I could perform everyday tasks. It took many months to see further progress but six months on and I am fit enough to cycle five miles! This seems small but its massive progress for me.

Though I wasn’t in the perfect shape, I did consider myself a healthy person before this whole experience. When I asked the question “Why did Covid-19 affect me so badly?” there was never a clear answer. While I do fit into some of the higher risk categories that are known so far, what’s clear is that Covid-19 can be deadly to us all. 

When I now look back, the most challenging part of this whole experience was what my family had to go through. The courage my wife and daughter showed can’t be described. What this pandemic threw at them was different from any situation we ever thought of. All they could do was stay at home wishing and praying for my safe return.

I learned my lesson the hard way. Even after taking the pandemic seriously from the beginning, following the rules and being very careful every day, it found its way to me and I had to fight.

If you ask me, nothing is worth the risk. Sometimes Covid-19 can feel like a hoax but when it knocks on your door, or puts one of your loved ones on a ventilator, it becomes very real. Getting Covid-19 is not a pleasant experience to get through, nor does it leave you in the best shape.

We’re so lucky that there’s so much research available and that our doctors and nurses are skilled enough to save as many lives as possible but we can all do things to help curb the virus.

My message to you is to take Covid-19 seriously. Follow the rules and help to stop the spread of the virus to protect those you know and love.

Without my strong desire to live a long life, prayers from my loved ones and mammoth efforts from medical professionals I wouldn’t be here today. For that I am grateful.

Jinny Varkey
Environment and Release Testing Manager, Carnival UK

Jinny is currently taking part in this year’s Movember campaign by cycling 60 miles to help raise funds and awareness of men’s health. If you’d like to show Jinny your support by making a donation to the Movember campaign click here.

If you’ve been affected by Jinny’s story it’s important to remember there is support for you. Speak to your line manager in the first instance or contact our EAP provider.