I was bit hesitant to share earlier but would like to share about the Corona experience in the family now that things have improved.1/n

My mother was suffering from cold and fever in early May and was diagnosed with seasonal pneumonia (clinic).Few days later dad also started having cough.Also mom's fever was coming back every few days and when both mom and dad's symptoms didnt subside they went for covid test.2/n

Both mom and dad are 60+ and are residing in Dubai and the govt there has free Covid test (drive-thru) for symptomatic and senior citizens. Within 2 days of having their samples taken, they both were declared covid +ve on 15th May. 3/n

It was scary for everyone in family because of their age. While dad is completely fit and active, mom is diabetic and has high BP too so were more worried for her. While dad was admitted to govt quarantine facility, mom was admitted to emergency ward in govt hospital. 4/n

There were no issues in admitting both and the govt did a good job in identifying and admitting based on co-morbidities and symptoms. Dad was put in a room with few others and required little oxygen (2-4liters) as oxygen was just below the 94% level. 5/n

Mom was also put on 4L oxygen initially for couple of days. Both mom and dad were given the regular medicine set of HCQ, Kaletra and Vit.C, Vit.D+Zinc tablets and there were no side effects of it. 6/n

While dad's oxygen levels came back to 97+ within a couple of days, mom's condition deteriorated quickly and the infection markers (LDH, CRP, Ferritin, D-Dimer) shooted much higher than the regular levels each passing day. Her oxygen was raised upto 40liters(max)! 7/n

This was because the pneumonia was the Covid pneumonia and had turned out to be much severe. Almost 10 days post admission when the condition further deteriorated, doctors then decided to give her convalescent plasma. She was still on max oxygen. 8/n

Meanwhile dad had recovered and tested twice negative and let go on after 12 days. But mom's condition didnt show improvement soon after the plasma therapy. But 3-4 days post the plasma therapy, she showed signs of improvement and it took 2 weeks to get off oxygen support. 9/n

Though she showed signs of recovery and was off oxygen support, her tests showed positive over the days. But she and family kept hope and our prayers alive and today after 34 days of hospitalization she has been discharged after testing twice negative 10/n

Would like to whole-heartedly thank @uaegov for their exceptional healthcare facilities and care and to @DHA_Dubai for their great hospital network and social media team who helped me and my brother co-ordinate with the doctors treating her 11/na

Also thanks to the anonymous plasma donors who help saved many lives. Plasma from one recovered patient can save upto 3 lives and it gets replenished in 15 days unlike blood which takes months. So covid recovered patients pls pls donate your plasma 12/n

My dad is very eager to donate his plasma but has to wait few more days as per gov norms to donate to govt collection center. 13/n

While healthcare facilities are good in UAE, same cant be said about India. So please ensure senior citizens don't go out. Have immunity boosting foods (vit c, vit d, zinc, protein) and buy a pulse oximeter if possible. And get tested as soon as possible if symptoms arrive. 14/n

Finally please pray for mom that she recovers fully soon and also pray for all those infected. Thanking you in advance n/n