Did we ever imagine a change that would have all of us locked up indoors for months? Isn’t it ironically strange that a microscopic virus could shatter all the tall claims by man of being the supreme creation, of countries who claimed to be super powers only to be brought down and in turn bring entire humanity to its knees?

When India enforced a total shutdown countrywide, as a music journalist it was a bad time for me, as the newspaper I worked for temporarily stopped publishing. The late night parties, live concerts and shows were stopped. It was a terrible scene for the music industry as musicians and artists lost money. I was fortunate to start again in August when work resumed.

I used the opportunity of the lockdown to doing things I never had the time for. It was always a mad race to submit stories within deadlines. Here I had all the time to do without it. Chill. Relax. Spend quality time with family, cataloguing my music collection, watching movies and reading books I always wanted to, and of course watching the news updates on the corona virus as it dangerously spread worldwide.

Every day at our family rosary, we would pray to God to save us (me, my wife, and daughter) from the corona virus. Just when all was going well and I was all excited that the year went off well with us and we were safe from COVID 19, I was in for a surprise.

Around 20 days before Christmas, a stubborn fever with a bit of shivering engulfed my body. Visits to the family doctor diagnosed it as a viral infection or malaria. A malaria test came out negative. It was only when the fever spiked to nearly 101, was I was advised to do a raft of blood tests and chest x ray at the hospital which soon confirmed my worst fears that COVID 19 was detected. My oxygen levels, BP were normal, without life-threatening symptoms, except a few blood parameters that shot up due to the infection. I had COVID 19, but I was going to fight it and defeat it. No way was I going to be another statistic on the deceased list.

With the help of the COVID 19 team, a loving spouse and her own determination to see me recover, I was admitted to hospital in the COVID ward in a private room. The COVID warriors with all the personal protective equipment on them looked like Martians to me. This was reality. Believe me, it’s very real. It’s a nightmare with your eyes open. I watched this scenario only on TV.

Hospital policy prohibited visitors, but I found comfort watching TV and a phone to keep in touch with my family, my mum, my sister’s family, niece and my two brothers abroad. They were worried about me and extended every support to me and my family, which I am very grateful for.  More so, when my wife and daughter also tested COVID 19 positive and were advised 7 days home quarantine. I never expected this to happen to all of us. I was nervous and on edge. But I was sure that God would save all of us. He would cure us. I had full faith in Him.

The doctors immediately began a line of treatment, and told me that my case wasn’t serious and that if I responded well to the medicine, within 7 to 10 days, I would be on my way home. That made me feel better.

The separation from family was hard to bear, more so for my wife and daughter. In my loneliness, it was at this time that I started looking at life differently. When you’re left alone to battle a disease that has yet no cure and no one really knows how to handle, not knowing if you are going to live or die, while thinking of who will take care of your family or if you will ever get back to work again, you’re on survival mode. I’d spend the day watching TV or reading and what else, napping. At night after taking my medications, it was the first time ever; I would recite the rosary alone ending with a special prayer for healing.

Prayers for all of us poured in from all over for our speedy recovery and I believe it was only due to the prayers that cured us. After 7 days I was told that I would be discharged, albeit a few kilos lighter. A few hours before being discharged, I was overjoyed to see a priest visit me and give me Holy Communion. A few nurses celebrated my discharge by wishing me a speedy recovery as I left the ward. I really feel for them and appreciate everything they do. I hate that caring for me puts them at risk.

Back home and on 7 day home quarantine which included Christmas day, I saw that our house wasn’t decorated for Christmas like it used to, everything was gloomy. I had to make it look like Christmas no matter what happened to us. My wife was resolute in offering everything I needed even though I was confined to a separate room. Once I was feeling a bit better, the three of us got the house decorated. We attended the Christmas Eve mass by Cardinal Oswald Gracias. Like every Christmas Eve in pre COVID 19 days, it would be mass, a few friends over for a party at our house joining us in raising our glasses to the Christmas cheer. But here I was in my house, after the mass, holding a glass of water in one hand and my medications in the other.

After 10 days and a followup COVID 19 test, as COVID 19 survivors our result showed COVID 19 negative. Through this experience, one of the things I learnt was that as much as WE Plan, GOD Decides. He decided that for me, the Show Must Go On.

I thank God for curing and giving me a second chance to Live. Love. Dance again.

-        By Verus Ferreira