Grateful.
This is how Mary Mahlangu, an admissions clerk/case administrator at the Life Dalview Hospital, described feeling about surviving her battle with Covid-19.
The 30-year-old Nigel resident fell ill with the virus in July last year.
She doesn’t know how she contracted the virus as she followed every precautionary measure required at work and home.
“It started at work. I was experiencing mild symptoms, until one day I struggled to breathe. I knew something was wrong and went to see my doctor. I got my positive results on July 14,” she said.
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“My symptoms were mild at first. I would get headaches, the occasional loss of appetite and fatigue.
“Gradually, the symptoms became worse, especially shortness of breath and I would at times struggle to talk.
“My mild headaches became more severe. I started having diarrhoea and a high temperature during the day as I would feel my body heat up, and cold nights as my body would feel like an ice cube.
“I remember one night having to sleep with eight blankets on and a hot water bottle.”
Mary quarantined at home with her family.
“The situation affected my family negatively. I had to quarantine with my husband and son (9). It was difficult for my son to understand why he could not play outside nor move around the house like he usually would,” she said.
“My mother, who has an underlying chronic illness, could not enter my room as I was afraid of compromising her health.
“In a way, it added stress unto her, especially if she would hear a sneeze or cough coming from my younger sister.
“She would automatically assume that everyone including herself had the virus.
“The virus affected our psychological well-being and as the person who might spread the virus to my loved ones at home, it became a heavy burden to carry.”
Explaining her daily routine, Mary shared she would wake up and take a bath and then make sure to sanitise the bath and the surfaces she had touched.
“I would tidy the bedroom and then sit in the car to catch the morning sunshine. My bedroom and the car were the only spaces I could enter without endangering my family.
“I would take a nap after eating lunch, and at night I would steam with hot water.”
Asked about how she coped with the illness, Mary admitted it affected her mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally.
“Initially, I thought I was coping well under the circumstances but I was in denial and not coping at all,” she said.
“I was too drained and weak, especially since there is no definite medication that would help cure the virus.”
Mary created a chat group for herself and colleagues who had the virus.
“Through the group chat we were able to comfort each other, check up on each other and talk about our feelings and how we each were dealing with the illness,” she said.
“Some of my colleagues were slowly sinking into depression, including myself, and I decided to consult and seek help from sister Carien Van Rooyen who helped me organise virtual counselling sessions with a professional counsellor or psychologist from an organisation called Careways.”
Mary has since returned to work and is in good health.
She thanked her family for their support and patience, telling the Herald they were her source of strength and motivation to fight the virus.
“I would also like to thank my colleagues for their comforting messages and the professionals who helped us overcome the depression that was slowly creeping up,” she said.
“I am grateful that God gave me the strength to fight and become a survivor and not a victim of the virus.”
She had words of encouragement for fellow frontline workers.
“We need to hang in there, though it might not be easy at times. We need to remember that we are the source of stability for the country,” she said.
“It will not be easy but God’s grace is sufficient and will carry us through the pandemic.”
As for those who still don’t take the virus seriously, Mary pleaded with everyone to adhere to precautionary measures to protect themselves, their loved ones and the people around them.
“The virus is real and kills. The sooner people understand that, the better it will be for the country,” she said.
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“Families lost their loved ones and were deprived of giving their loved ones a dignified send-off.
“People lost their livelihoods because of the virus and people can no longer interact in the usual way.”
Mary added she will most definitely be vaccinated against Covid-19.
“I will be taking the vaccine to protect myself and the people around me,” she concluded.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Thelma Koorts (editor) brakpanherald@caxton.co.za or Stacy Slatter (news editor) stacys@caxton.co.za
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