I fought to live! I fought!! – Ayodeji, Coronavirus Survivor

BY OUR EDITOR

Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi has every reason to give thanks. In the last couple of weeks, she had walked through the valley of shadow of death and had confronted the current global enemy number one, the evil called coronavirus.

For someone who has devoted her youthful life advocating for gender equality and against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as Executive Director of Stand To End Rape (STER), she was not going to allow a strange disease violate her right to live.

Notwithstanding the dread that the disease posed, she was determined to live and only option opened to her was to fight. She did. And in her own words, “I fought to live, I fought.”

Even though her identity had remained hidden all the while she was numbered among the coronavirus cases in Nigeria, Lagos to be precise, she finally resolved to unveil herself in order to be a source of strength and hope to all who are currently battling with the virus or who may see the ailment as death warrant.

She shared her life-changing experience on her Twitter handle:

“Life finds ways of throwing LEMON at me. I’ve struggled with coming forward, but I want to inspire hope.

“I returned to Nigeria from the UK post-Commonwealth event (I totally enjoyed) and fell ill.

“As a responsible person, I self-isolated. Days after, I TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

“The next days were tough. No appetite. The nausea, vomit and stooling was (were) unbearable. I’m a blood type A and #COVID19 dealt with me.

“I thought I was going to die and contemplated a succession plan for @StandtoEndRape

“I was on drugs daily. Sometimes, I‘d take 8 tablets in the morning, 13 tablets in the afternoon, 10 at night.

“My system threw everything out! Water, food, soap and all disgusted me. But I’d look at the wall and force myself to stay hydrated — drank ORS. I FOUGHT TO LIVE! I FOUGHT!!

“Days after, the doctors shared a good news, that I tested negative. I shared this news with family and friends!

“My blood sample was taken and I also tried to donate my plasmapheresis to help others.

“I hoped to be discharged. I waited to be discharged, but for two days, nothing happened.

“I was unsure of what was going on. Why haven’t I been discharged? Should I be in the same ward? Could I get re-infected? I was worried but remained calm.

“On the third day, doctors said, ‘well, we worked with the information we had of you testing negative, but one result came back positive.’

“’…You’ll stay a few more days. You know we take nose, mouth and sputum samples.’

“Am I still positive?” I asked.

“’No, you’re negative,’ the doctor replied.

“The doctor apologised for the delay. I was anxious to go home but remained calm.

“I wanted to be free from this pain.

“I continued the medication and asked to be in a separate ward. Sadly, I remained in the same ward as all others rooms were full.

“My ward had people who were positive. What if I get re-infected?

“For them, I was a beacon of hope & they needed me gone to register the progress.

“My family & friends were becoming anxious. People in my ward who earlier celebrated the news of my result suddenly lost hope.

“’Why are you still here?’

“’You shouldn’t be here with us. You should be separated from us now…’ People in my ward muttered.

“I tried to calm them.

READ: Lagos discharges 5 Coronavirus patients

“Today, I am PROUD to inform you that I MURDERED COVID-19 and have tested NEGATIVE TWICE! I HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED!

“I bless God for His mercies.

“The nurses at IDH Yaba were fab. They deserve accolades for their hard work.

“Thank you, Governor @jidesanwoolu for coming to see me.

“Thanks to @ProfAkinAbayomi, the health team at IDH (Infectious Disease Hospital), Lagos State. The food was good!

“Thanks to @dondekojo for helping me get help.

“Thanks to my chat buddy, @akintonmide.

“Thank you @KelechiAFC and @lailajohnsonsal for the mental and material support. They protected my identity!

“Thanks to everyone who called, sent messages and tried to contact me. I am grateful and well.

“This experience reminded me of the value of friendship. Some people I refer to as friends speculated about this, but never reached out to check. Thank you still. Back to the grind!

“Huge thanks to my family, @Triciabiz & Sola Odetola who were my backbone.

“Some stigmatised me based on a PUNCH article with subtle messages like, ‘Why did she come back to Nigeria?’

“Nigeria is my home.

“Coronavirus is NOT a death sentence. People can survive and I HAVE!

“We should encourage people to get tested stop stop the stigma. Practise social distancing and stop the spread.

“The NCDC and State Governments need to improve their testing capacity. Test mild/asymptomatic cases too.

“Sending strength to everyone who is fighting to beat #COVID19.

“To every young person out there, please give your lungs a chance to beat this. Can I encourage you to stop smoking and live a healthy life at this time?

“A healthy lungs is KEY!

“This another phase of my life and I HAVE won! I celebrate my resilience and strength.

“Call me SURVIVAYO.”