Dad’s Discharged, Finally
Two days ago, on 14 April 2020, Tuesday, Dad was finally discharged after 67 days of hospitalization – 29 days in ICU, 17 days in isolation ward, and the final 3 weeks in the general ward.
No, it wasn’t a consecutive 29 days in ICU. Dad’s first ICU stay was 21 days, and out for 2 weeks, and in again for another 6 days, and out for 3 days, and in again for another 2 days. And then straight out of NCID’s ICU to TTSH’s general ward.
A Vast Improvement
Dad’s improvement during the past 3 weeks in the general ward was nothing short of a miracle, as we witnessed how he progressed from needing O2 support whenever he sat up, with increased heart rate, blood in the stools, on NG tube feeding, to being able to walk on his own without needing O2 support, no more internal bleeding, and started on a normal diet again.
We didn’t expect such a vast improvement within such a short span of time. Ever since dad was first admitted to ICU, the message we’ve been getting from the doctors was: your dad would most probably need several months to fully recover after discharge, probably needing oxygen support at home.
There was only one reason for the above improvement – God chose to heal dad at that pace in the past 3 weeks. In fact, the doctors actually wanted to discharge dad a week earlier, but we felt it was too rushed. The last thing we want is for dad to have to be re-admitted after a few days back home. In fact, dad’s blood level actually dipped a few days later and required blood transfusion, but there wasn’t enough blood in the blood bank that day.
The Maid’s Fever
Back to this week. A day before my dad was due for discharge, my sis informed me that the maid was having a fever. It had only been a week since the maid stayed at my mum’s place. Since the first day she arrived, my mum and sis have been worried about her temperature being higher than usual. Could it be Covid-19?
The three of us thought perhaps it would be better for us to send the maid for a test – that’s if the doctor deems necessary, and wait for the result to be out before dad is discharged.
Dad’s Disappointment
Hence when we suggested the idea to dad that he might need to stay for another couple of days, he was disappointed, very, actually. Dad has reached his limit of tolerance. “No, I’m not going to stay on another day in the hospital, even if the maid might be covid-positive!”
“Is this yet another potential covid cycle, with another round of home quarantine again? God, You ought to be joking right? How dramatic can the story get?” we wondered.
After hearing the disappointment and dismay in my dad’s voice, I gave him a call. We prayed together – for the maid’s well-being, and for God to grant my dad’s desire for him to be home on 14 April.
The Day of Discharge
Mum brought the maid for testing on 14 April morning. Dad was getting himself ready for discharge nonetheless.
I couldn’t say that dad looked happy when I went down that afternoon to see to the discharge process, but I knew he was certainly relieved to be finally going home. I was glad my sis was there as well, to send my dad back home.
Bruno, our 14-year old chihuahua, was sure ecstatic when he saw dad, and was by dad’s bedside throughout the night.
WEH PSALMS 