Ballito nurse back from helping Ebola patients

After eight weeks of treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, witnessing the disease first hand, Laura Mosiah cannot wait to return and help more people.

“If I could, I would go back to Sierra Leone right this moment. It was a life changing experience,” said Mosiah.

Mosiah departed for Sierra Leone on January 23 with the Right to Care non-governmental organisation and returned on March 22. She had to spend 21 days in quarantine to check for any possible symptoms of the disease.

“Being isolated from the community in quarantine gave me time to consolidate the experience. When I think about it, it felt like I was in a movie .”

Mosiah said that since coming back home she has not stopped talking about the challenges and miracles she experienced. Of the 98 patients that the South African team of doctors treated, only 31 survived.

“If you look at the Ebola death rate statistics of 85%, this was surprisingly good,” said Mosiah.

Mosiah and the team of South African doctors had one week of training in Johannesburg before their departure

“The training was just a stepping stone, because nothing can prepare you for what you face when treating the patients. All you can do is focus on treating your patient, being their nurse, treating the symptoms.”

She said that generally when patients arrived at the treatment centre they were very confused and deteriorated quickly. One international staff member contracted Ebola and decided to remain in their treatment centre. Mosiah said seeing their colleague fight the disease, survive and get discharged, was incredible.

“We all became good friends, supporting each other during the tough times but also laughing together. There were a few lighter moments due to the language barriers between us and the Italians and South Koreans.”

She recounted some of the miracles she witnessed with a broad smile but had a tear in her eye when she spoke of a 17-year-old boy who died.

“He was in the treatment centre for 60 days. He was such a fighter and it was incredible to see him get cleared and discharged,” said Mosiah.

Unfortunately the boy had developed a terrible bed sore which required an operation.

“After surviving Ebola, he died from anesthetic complications during the operation. It was heartbreaking. I could not understand that. It will stay with me forever,” she said.

Mosiah said it was inspiring to see a four-year-old boy and eight-year-old girl being discharged. Children’s chances to survive Ebola are very low because of their weak immune systems.

She said the whole experience changed her completely.

“I have become a lot more compassionate and emotional. There is no way I can go back to a normal life or do a nine-to-five job again.”

She said she is trying to keep up to date with what is happening with communicable diseases and treatments and she is looking to further her studies.

“I am sending out my CV to humanitarian organisations because I need to go back there and help, this is who I am.”

During her time in Sierra Leone, her firm belief in God kept her sane.

“I have seen the power of prayer over there. People who were on their death bed, turned around completely and walked out of there healthy. He is in control of everything,” she said.

Bubbling over with stories and excitement of the work she has done for Ebola patients, Mosiah is clearly no ordinary nurse anymore, but an extraordinary human being.