84 years old man became Meghalaya’s oldest patient to defeat COVID-19

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 25, 2020

An 84-year-old man became the state’s oldest COVID-19 patient to recover from the viral infection after he was discharged on Friday.

The elderly patient was admitted at the Bethany hospital, Shillong on September 11, with profound fatigue, breathlessness and fever and tested positive for COVID-19.

Hospital spokesperson, Dr Kyntiewlang Sanmiet said the patient was hospitalised for 14 days and as he left the hospital, our doctors and nurses lined the hallways to cheer on as he was wheeled out and discharged after his test results returned negative on the 13th day.

“His story shines a light of hope in all of us overcoming this battle as a state and community.  It’s always wonderful to see people affected with COVID-19 recovered. We continue to celebrate with our COVID-19 patients whenever they recover and get to go home from our hospital,” he said.

“But this celebration was extra special because this patient, at 84 years old, is the oldest in the state to recover and be discharged,” Dr Sanmiet said adding that his strength and determination are amazing.

He was put on high oxygen support for the first 6 days and other treatment after which he improved symptomatically and became better.

Recalling the first day when the patient was admitted at the hospital, Dr Sanmiet said that patient’s HRCT chest showed bilateral COVID pneumonia features and ECG showed ventricular premature complexes.

He has comorbidities namely hypertension, megaloblastic anaemia and prostatomegaly. He also had low blood cell counts (leukopenia and thrombocytopenia) for which he was undergoing treatment,” he said.

Meanwhile, the hospital spokesman also thanked doctors, nurses and all medical staff for their relentless efforts and selfless dedication and for working tirelessly to provide quality care to all patients with compassion and commitment.