We are a generation who can boast of having witnessed the dawn of a new millennium, the internet, the IT revolution, and space travel. But on a side and sad note, we also had to witness the grim reality of a truly global pandemic which hits mankind only once in a few centuries.
This has been an acid test for humanity who until yesterday gloried itself in the unrivaled progress in every field of science only to find itself humbled by the finest of creatures.
As doctors, for both my wife and I, the last two years were a real eye-opener to our limitations rather than our strengths. Most doctors we know have a deep sense of faith and trust in God in one form or another simply because we have to deal with life, which is a mystery in itself. This trust may have doubled during this COVID pandemic for two reasons. Firstly, we had to fight an unknown enemy with hardly any literature, textbooks, guidelines, or protocols available.
Every possible human being, from a primary school student to politicians and heads of states, suddenly turned into researchers and scientists. Every possible form of media was flooded with new ideas, recommendations and arguments. It was so difficult to sift the chaff from the grain that we ultimately had to rely on our own basic knowledge and instincts.
Secondly, we had to risk our own lives like brave soldiers to save every possible life with sickness and mortality all around. We stood face to face with the possibility of an infection, hospitalization and even death. As news from around the globe of doctors, nurses and paramedics being infected and critically ill came pouring in we had to look up with folded hands for that extra strength and courage in the face of adversity.
The tragedy of the pandemic we witnessed is how a person found COVID positive finds himself deserted and left to the mercy of the nurse or the doctor. People gasping for breath with imminent cardiorespiratory arrest turned away due to the lack of beds was a sudden fright. Dead bodies lay in queues like logs of wood waiting for their turn to be burned or buried.
The PPE kit, the N95 mask, face shields, gloves, were a nightmare in the beginning. With multiple layers of clothing in the hot summers, we felt as if we were in a hot oven.
The frequent hand washing, sanitizing, and distancing could be hardly followed with physical contact, handling patients and teamwork are required.
Towards the end of a long-drawn battle, we look back with bewilderment and a sense of satisfaction that we too are war veterans, though undecorated.
– Dr Bijumon Varkey and Dr Litty Paulose