How a gritty cop rose from Covid ashes

Hyderabad City-based policeman rose from Covid ashes and survived, defying doctors' opinion that he would die. Shafiullah Khan, a head constable in Central Crime Station, Hyderabad, had survived from the deadly virus even after his lungs were severely damaged. His sheer determination to live has helped him to fight the deadly disease. He was diagnosed with the novel Covid infection in the first week of July last year. During his isolation period, he had mild symptoms but there was no adverse effect on his body. After some days, he had serious cough and his oxygen levels started dipping. His family members kept trying for an oxygen-equipped bed in every hospital. Finally, a private hospital agreed to admit him, but on a condition that the hospital management should not be held responsible if he died. Shafiullah Khan narrates his four-month long ordeal

Here is the story of a gritty policeman who rose from Covid ashes and survived, defying doctors' opinion that he would die. With the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic spreading its tentacles across the country, this police constable's victory over the Covid-19 goes on to show that one can defeat the deadly Covid with sheer courage, confidence and determination.

Shafiullah Khan (58), a head constable in Central Crime Station, Hyderabad, had survived from Covid even after his lungs were severely damaged. His sheer determination to live has helped him to fight the deadly disease.

He was diagnosed with the novel Covid infection in the first week of July last year. During his isolation period, he had mild symptoms but there was no adverse effect on his body. After spending 15 days in quarantine, he came out of the isolation and became busy with Bakrid festival. Then after few days, he felt headache and light fever with 99 degree Celsius. Later on, he had serious cough and his oxygen levels started dipping. Worried, he approached a private hospital near his home. "The doctor there asked me to take HRCT test. Test results showed that my lungs got badly damaged to the extent of 95 per cent. My oxygen levels at one point of time came down to 42 and I had to breath oxygen from cylinder," he told Bizz Buzz, while narrating his four-month long ordeal.

His family had taken to him various hospitals in the city, but most of them refused to admit him as his lungs were severely damaged. Even his superior's recommendations also not worked and doctors straight away said he would die.

Not losing hope, his family members kept trying for an oxygen-equipped bed in every hospital. After six days of their struggle, Thumbay New Life hospital in Chaderghat agreed to admit him, but on a condition that the hospital management should not be held responsible if he died. Shafiullah Khan told the doctors confidently that he would not die and requested them to offer treatment. The hospital administered eight remdesivir injections over a eight-period, but his condition did not improve. So, the hospital discharged him.

Not a man to give up so easily, he asked his family members to arrange oxygen cylinders, concentrator, thermometer, BP machine and other devices required for supplying oxygen to him and also for monitoring his health condition. His family members, especially his wife, daughter and son-in-law took care of him and provided whatever he needed. "I strongly believed that I would overcome this ordeal and survive. I did not fear death. I should thank my wife, children and son-in-law for doing everything to me during that difficult period. I should also thank my superiors, who had infused confidence in me to fight the virus and they use to call me every day to motivate me," said Shafiullah. One has to be very careful about virus, do all precautions to not affect by it, as the virus may trouble you and your family, he added. In all, he used 60 oxygen cylinders for two months and when he returned to duty, he use to carry portable oxygen cylinders in his car. Whenever he needed sensed that his oxygen levels were dipping, he used portable cylinders. Thus, from August to November last year, he survived using oxygen cylinders and defeated the Covid.

"If a person suffers from severe hypoxemia and his oxygen levels fall below 60, his condition is critical and survival chances are low. If such person is given proper medication with exact doses at right time and if his immune system responds to the treatment, he may overcome the respiratory problems. Shafiullah strongly believed that he would survive. That helped him a lot and he could fight the virus," said Abdullah Saleem, pulmonologist, Thumbay New Life Hospital.