From a near-death experience to making a full recovery and now back at work, the life journey of Arunkumar M Nair, a Kerala man who was working as a frontline health worker in UAE during the COVID-19 pandemic is nothing short of a miracle.
On Tuesday, the 38-year-old joined back at work as an operation theatre technician at Abu Dhabi’s LLH Hospital, nearly nine months after he was discharged from there.
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Six-month long battle with COVID
In January, he had made a miraculous recovery after a nearly six-month-long battle with COVID-19.
Nair was infected with COVID-19 in July 2021, and he had initially moved to a quarantine facility.
But days later, his condition worsened and he was struggling to breathe.
The virus had severely infected his lungs and Nair was rushed to a hospital where he was in an unconscious state.
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He was on prolonged ECMO support and overcame incredible odds, including multiple cardiac arrests.
Discharge and prolonged recovery
After his discharge in January, Nair had hoped to get back to work soon but was faced with a long road to recovery ahead of him. He was staying in a flat near the hospital, which the company provided to help him avail of medical support whenever required.
On Tuesday, Nair returned to the Operation theater as a technician as joyous colleagues welcomed him back.
“We are thrilled to welcome back Arun Nair, our frontline warrior who fought COVID-19 bravely and made a remarkable recovery. We look forward to providing him with continued support as he settles back into work and wish him all success for the future,” said John Sunil, CEO of Burjeel Holdings.
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Rebuilding life after COVID
The recovery period was rife with challenges, and Arun encountered difficulties, including fever and long bouts of cough. He had a tracheostomy hole from his hospitalization period that was covered with epithelial tissue. It was not until a few months ago that the doctors deemed Arun fit enough to undergo the procedure to close the hole.
“I wasn’t in great shape. Basic daily activities were a challenge. Even going to the washroom alone was difficult in the first 2-3 months. I had tremendous support from my wife for everything. It has only been a few months since I have been completely taken off oxygen support and started doing things on my own,” Nair recalled.
With the help of his wife Jenny, Nair has even started going for daily walks and doing light strength training at home. He is eager to get into the swing of things.
“The last few months have been a difficult experience mentally. I am certain that my daily activities and work will improve my mental and physical health. Seeing the world getting back to normal by easing restrictions also gives me hope. At work, I was someone with a lot of responsibilities. I know I have limitations, but I am eager to take up all my duties again, work with the same zeal, and give it my best effort,” he said.
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Family thankful for the support
Jenny, who is a nurse by profession, is waiting for her husband to get settled at work so she too can start working.
She also thanked the support the family has received from those around them during this challenging period.
“During these months he spent at home, there were times he would feel really low. His colleagues from the hospital visited us at home and encouraged him a lot. He’s definitely in a better frame of mind now,” Jenny said.
In January, when Nair was discharged from the hospital, and Burjeel Holdings’ management rewarded him with Rs 50 lakh as a token of appreciation for his fighting spirit.
Nair became emotional when he describes the support he received from his hospital and Burjeel Holdings.
“Throughout this period, I received excellent support from the management that has encouraged me to go forward. I don’t have words to describe it. With the support and encouragement of the management, doctors, and my colleagues, I am in this position today. They were so considerate that they even arranged for me to be picked up during follow-up appointments,” he said.
He is a fighter
Dr. Tarig Ali Elhassan, Specialist Cardiac Surgery, Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, who treated Nair during his hospitalisation described him as a fighter whose grit and determination have helped him recover from a life-threatening illness.
“He has shown great improvement in these last few months. Happy to see him in better health. Healing is an ongoing process and we hope that he will be able to regain his pre-COVID state of health,” he said.
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