95-year-old West Rand resident beats Covid-19

Hindsight provides a valuable opportunity to reassess and analyse recent happenings. The unravelling of 2020 will be spoken about for many years with no guarantee of the truth ever surfacing.

The nation’s thoughts and prayers are with those connected to anyone who may have sadly succumbed to the virus or accompanying complications. One of the vast majority of South Africans to have defeated the deadly virus is 95-year-old Marthie Potgieter.

The Ons Huis Retirement Village resident tested positive in July and recounts her ordeal in clear detail.

When the symptoms first took hold of Marthie, she was taken to a private hospital on the West Rand in a deteriorating state.

“It felt like I was slipping into a coma,” said the nonagenarian who has been at the retirement home for less than a year. Her fear and uncertainty would be compounded as she woke up in the hospital cold and in severe pain.

“I was full of tubes and it was the coldest I have ever felt,” she continued.

Marthie would spend eight uncomfortable days in the hospital fighting the symptoms widely believed to be the hallmarks of Covid-19. Severe chest pains left her upper body feeling tight and a sore throat left her unable to eat properly, with her fever exacerbated by the cold winter conditions.

“I prayed that the Lord would take me out of this place,” said the now fit again patient.

Relieved to receive the good news that she was going home, Marthie’s ordeal would be prolonged, as possible Covid-19 side effects left her needing another hospital stay, this time at the opposite end of Roodepoort.

Marthie was not complimentary of either facility as she felt under-cared for and roughly treated. Neither hospital could comment on any perceived wrongdoing, but were happy that Marthie was in good health again.

The 95-year-old attributes her recovery to a healthy lifestyle and some good luck. “I don’t ever remember being sick except for this winter.”

She had no special advice for anyone wanting to learn her secret, saying simply “I’m just me”.

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