Our Encounter with COVID-19

It’s good to be back. Last week we decided to take a break – well deserved, we think, especially after all that has happened this year. We also had so much going on.

Thank you for those who reached out to check if everything was ok. This week we have decided to take short detour as we will explain why shortly.

If this is your first visit on our blog, for a bit of the background and the journey so far, we would suggest that you read first blog post, The Meeting, Ndine musikana wangu (I got myself a girl), Dating & Courtship , Meeting the Families , Cultural Hurdles, FAQ & Wedding Preparations, The Wedding Day Part 1 , The Wedding Day Part 2 , The Rest of the Wedding Day Honeymoon & Early Days 1 and Honeymoon & Early Days 2. For introduction of our family and categories of topics to be covered please visit the About Us page.

If you live in the UK, I think we can safely say that our family is not the only one affected by the announcement made by the Prime Minister on Saturday 19 December, effectively cancelling Christmas for many families.

Tim and Nomsa were planning to come home for Christmas and we were getting excited in the build-up to spending some time together. This was until the hopes of the long awaited get-together were dashed by the announcement, which came as a result of the increasing infections in London and the South East. Since Tim and Nomsa live in these areas affected, they cannot come home for Christmas. It was devastating news.

Whilst this was not the news we expected, Wim and I, and our children, fully understand. Wim and I know that COVID-19 is real as we both were infected during the first wave and thankfully recovered.

Our hearts go out to those people who have lost loved ones due to this dreaded disease. For them this Christmas is going to be a difficult one. Our hearts also go to those who have not fully recovered and are still suffering from what is now called the long covid.

Our encounter with COVID-19 started on Friday 22 May 2020. Wim developed a persistent cough which continued overnight. I immediately self-isolated and moved into Tim’s bedroom (thankfully he was not home during that time) and Wim was confined to our bedroom.

We had discussed and planned of how we would self-isolate should either of us get symptoms. We put our plan into action – it was not easy. Wim booked a COVID-19 test and got a slot for early Saturday morning. We continued with our self-isolation plan. Wim was not to go downstairs at all.

The test results came via a text message on Monday morning and it was positive. By this time the cough had stopped, and things were quiet. We were hoping and praying that she would develop only mild symptoms of the disease. We had family and church here in the UK and back in Zimbabwe praying for full and complete recovery. I had to take annual leave to take care of my beloved wife.

Then things turned for the worst. Wim started feeling pain all over her body; she developed a fever and the temperature was difficult to control with paracetamol and cool damp towels etc.

Family and friends kindly provided some information on natural remedies – garlic, ginger, honey, onion, steaming etc – and we carefully followed this.

The pain continued as we counted down the days.

On Wednesday, I started losing my taste and having a fever. This was scary. How were we to cope, if both of us were to be ill at the same time? On Friday 29 May I booked and went for a COVID-19 test. I was still feeling well enough to cook and take care of Wim.

Mid-afternoon same day, Wim’s condition deteriorated. She started feeling breathless and the pain was increasing. We called NHS111 and after a telephone assessment, they sent in an ambulance. Now things were getting serious.

As the ambulance arrived, I called Tim and Nomsa on a conference call so that they could follow what was happening as well. After an assessment the paramedics decided to take her to hospital. I couldn’t even give her a hug as she walked out of the house. There will be no hospital visits. I tried to encourage her – I don’t feel I did enough though. I was not settled.

As the ambulance drove off and turned left into the main road, I had the worst feeling – a feeling I had never felt before. It felt as if two pieces of very heavy metal had been hung on my shoulders.

Is that it? I wondered. Could this be the last time I see my dear wife – my wife of almost 30 years? Is this how it is ending?

I entered the house and closed the door behind me – I just sat on the stairs and broke down. Tim and Nomsa were still on the conference call. I cried. My children were comforting me. “It’s ok Dad. Everything will be ok – mum will be ok.”

I sent out prayer S.O.S messages to my family, Wim’s family, our church family and friends. I then called my sisters and we cried together. They all tried to encourage and console me, but they ended up crying as well. The experience was heart wrenching.

The paramedics had advised me to allow some 2 hours before calling the hospital to allow enough time for her to be assessed. There I was alone at home, with a pending COVID-19 test result myself.

THE Timeline

17:02hrs – Ambulance takes Wim to the hospital

18:20hrs – Received a text from Wim – she was in the Day Care centre but had not yet been seen by the doctor

18:25hrs – I responded with my text message “Wow! I was waiting to phone the hospital in the next 30mins or so. Thank you for the update. My dear we love you and EVERYONE is praying for you. We have a God who answers prayers. You are a prayer warrior. You will pull through this. I love you and will be continously praying for you until you walk back through the door you left. I will inform children. I love you.”

19:26hrs – Wim’s brief text message – Seen by Dr. I will try to call later. Pain killers given

20:42hrs – Wim called. This is the best call of my life. All tests had been done and they were found to be okay. Dr could not understand why the COVID-19 had hit her so hard as she was healthy with no underlying health conditions. “If you were not healthy and fit, we would be talking of something else. There is no reason why we should keep you here. Is there anyone who can come to pick you up” Dr concluded.

20:47hrs – I sent out a message to everyone I had sent earlier messages saying “There is a God Heaven!” advising them that Wim is coming back home.

21:00hrs – I was outside the hospital waiting for Wim. I was the happiest man in the world!

God has been good to us.

When we got home, we continued with our self-isolation.

Early the following morning a text came through – I was COVID-19 positive. I remembered Wim’s suffering during the past week and thought that if my symptoms were going to be that bad, then we needed help quickly. I sent out another S.O.S message to my church family.

We were amazed by how they responded – they quickly arranged amongst themselves to ensure that we had hot home cooked meals everyday – we had Indian curries, Malawian nsima, Zimbabwean sadza, lasagna etc. What a cuisine that was delivered daily to our doorsteps. The only downside was that I had lost my taste and appetite. Wim was not eating good as well. (We have jokingly suggested to those who prepared the meals, that we will kindly ask them to prepare the same meals when things settle, restrictions eased, and our appetite is back to normal)

Groceries, medication, thermometers, SATs machine, face masks were all kindly donated by friends and church family. Our neighbour helped buy some groceries for us.

Thankfully my infection was mild and not as bad as Wim’s. We thank God both Wim and I fully recovered – I was back to work after a week. Wim needed 4 weeks to fully recuperate before she was back on the frontline as a nurse, helping patients suffering from the same disease.

As we share our story, we are daily reminded that not all stories have ended as good as ours. Our hearts indeed go out to those that have lost loved ones.

We hope and pray that our story reminds us all, amongst other things, of the following:-

• COVID-19 is real – it has affected and continues to affect many people and families. The sacrifices we have been asked to endure with the latest restrictions are miniscule compared to the loss other families have suffered. Please say a prayer for individuals and families affected.
• Importance of family, friends and community – when faced with COVID-19, the family feuds and squabbles fade into significance. We were blessed to receive the support from our friends and church family. Please spend time to work on enriching those relationships.
• Practical matters – for example you need different thermometers ready for each member of a household; have a plan ready on how your household will manage self isolation.
• Maintain a healthful lifestyle – eat well, exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, get as much sunlight and/or take Vitamin D supplements, take everything in moderation (avoid harmful stuff), breathe well (check out breathing exercises on YouTube), take adequate rest, social and spiritual connection. This will boost your immune system before it faces any attacked from COVID-19 or other diseases.

Wim and I reaffirmed that life was a gift from God and we are very grateful to God. We needed the make the best of every opportunity that God gave us. Interestingly, our close encounter with COVID-19 was the impetus to start this MoreLoveatHome blog – we realised that no time was guaranteed.

This will be a Christmas like none we have all experienced before. We encourage you to reach out to others – especially those who have been adversely affected by this pandemic. We encourage you to share what you have with others – so many people have lost their livelihoods. Be a blessing to someone this Christmas.

A great shout goes out to the doctors, nurses, other hospital staff and all key workers who are daily putting themselves in harm’s way so that they would minister to our medical, health and even physical needs. Thank you all for your love and care.

Please allow Wim and myself to share with you the Hope that we find as we face such trying and difficult times. We do look forward to a New Heaven and New Earth, as promised in the Word of God.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”

Revelation 21:4-5

Weeping may endure for a night; But joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:5

Even this shall pass.

You are all in our prayers at this difficult time. Should you want to get in touch and pray with us, please send us a message.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Be safe and take care.

Next blog will be in the New Year.