- A 28-year-old coronavirus denier who spent 69 in an ICU bed after contracting with COVID-19 is currently undergoing several months of gruesome rehabilitation therapy.
- The patient has to re-learn how to walk and balance themselves, and things like brushing their hair and going to the bathroom are not possible.
- The woman thought she was young so she would not be infected – she did not wear a mask, and she admits she was ‘irresponsible.’
If ever there was a time for the whole world to put its differences on the page and work together, then this is it. The novel coronavirus is so contagious that everyone has his or her share to limit the spread. But the sad truth is that it does not happen. People want to get back to their normal lives despite the risks. Some weigh the rules knowing exactly what is the worst case scenario. Others deny the threat, and foolishly think that COVID-19 is a hoax, or that the virus cannot infect or kill them. We have seen many examples of coronavirus deniers experiencing this worst case. But even so, many people are still willing to ignore safety precautions such as social distance and face masks, which can significantly reduce the risk of transmission.
The latest example of how not to approach the pandemic involves a 28-year-old mother who has been in the store for months resentful of rehab. She spent 69 days in bed after contracting the virus, and now she will have to learn how to walk again. She can not even comb her hair, and her health will take months to improve.
This story comes from Spain, which proves that ignorance and irresponsibility are not limited to the United States. Vanessa Martinez was admitted to the ICU with COVID-19 on April 22, at a time when Spain is still battling massive COVID-19 outbreaks. The country was the epicenter of the pandemic for weeks, and shared that tile with Italy. Both countries were able to flatten the curve significantly, although new outbreaks are always possible.
The point here is that the young woman became infected at a time when the whole world was acutely aware of the dangers of COVID-19. Even Martinez ignored safety regulations and did not wear a face mask.
After 69 days in the ICU, Martinez was transferred to a regular hospital on June 29, but the story does not end there. ‘It’s one day after another after another,’ she said El Pais. “I was irresponsible.”
She never thought she could get the virus. She was asked to be a nursing assistant in the early weeks of the pandemic. ‘They told me they needed people, so even though I had no experience, it was easy. I said yes despite the risk, because I had to work for my daughter, ”the woman explained that she came to Spain from Honduras in 2015 in search of means to pay for the treatment of Down syndrome for her children.
‘I was not careful. I walked without a mask. I was young, why would I get infected? And here I am, ”said Martinez.
She was admitted to the hospital on April 5, but she remembers nothing but the fever and fatigue she felt. On April 17, she was transferred to another hospital due to the complications she was developing. She became one of the longest and longest ICU COVID-19 cases in the Gregorio Maranon Hospital. While in the ICU, she underwent a tracheotomy and a urinary catheter. The latter was not removed until the end of July.
She had been asleep for a long time, and the doctors used strong sedation to relax her muscles. She lost muscle mass to the point that she could not even hold or walk her head anymore. Other organs were also affected, including her eyes.
‘They washed me with sponge baths for three months, and until not long ago I could not even go to the bathroom. They put diapers on me … Diapers, ”she told the paper.
One of her treating doctors said the rehabilitation period could easily last eight months, and she may experience health problems even after that. Like Martinez, other patients in the same hospital will undergo similar recovery therapies, extending far beyond the time you would expect to spend in a hospital to treat an infectious disease.
Chris Smith started writing about gadgets as a hobby, and before he knew it, he shared his views on tech things with readers all over the world. Every time he does not write about gadgets, he manages to stay away from it, even though he tries desperately. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
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