Moot resident recovers from Covid-19 after 75 days in hospital

A man from Villieria in the Moot who was admitted to hospital with Covid-19, has been discharged from hospital after 75 days.

After getting discharged from the Zuid-Afrikaans hospital, Patrick Steinhobel (52) expressed the joy of getting back home.

Loved ones, family, neighbours and friends formed a guard of honour in front of the family’s home.

“I was stunned,” said an emotional Steinhobel.

“Every now and then I realised how many people really care about me.”

Patrick was admitted to hospital for the first time on Friday, June 18, where he was then in the high care unit for 59 days.

His wife, Amanda (51) said the doctors called them twice to let them know it was time to say goodbye to him.

“Twice we thought we were going to lose him,” she said.

“I do not think I will ever be able to explain that feeling of powerlessness to anyone.

“I told our two sons Rick and Dean to stay in touch with the doctors, because I just was not up to it,” said Amanda.

Although the Steinhobel family all tested positive for Covid-19, it hit Patrick the hardest.

“To this day, we are not sure where we got the virus,” she added.

The family was initially sceptical about the virus, but after this period they no longer see Covid-19 as a gimmick.

“We wore masks when we had to and used sanitisers, but we were not manic about it.”

Patrick complained of body aches shortly before he went to the hospital. A day later, his fever soared.

“I called our family doctor first thing on Monday. She advised us that Patrick should be admitted immediately.

“It was a struggle for survival.”

Although he does not remember much of the first two months, Patrick can remember how the staff sang gospel songs to him in the mornings and evenings.

Patrick mentioned that there were days he wanted to give up.

“There is one nurse I will not forget.

“She came to sit on my right side one morning and asked me what was wrong. I showed with my hand that I had no will to fight any more. She took my hand and started praying for me.

“When I opened my eyes, my life changed completely in the blink of an eye.

“A mere 10 minutes later, they removed the tracheotomy,” he said.

The doctors immediately notified the family of this miracle, and a few minutes later, Amanda was standing next to his bed.

“It was the greatest feeling when my husband was able to wrap his arms around me for the first time and just hold me.

“I reasoned with the Lord. I cannot lose my husband, I will not be able to continue without him.

“We asked for a second chance, and we will not forget the Lord’s grace.

“There were so many people who called us and said it brought them to a standstill and realised how precious life is, and that we need to care and reach out to one another,” she said.

Patrick said he sometimes asks himself as to “why did I get a second chance?

“This is something I often wonder about, but when I pray now, I no longer ask why, but now thank the Lord that I got the chance.

“I pray for the smallest things like oxygen that we can inhale every day.”

Photos on the wall next to his hospital bed gave him the courage and strength to keep fighting.

“People probably thought I was crazy, but I talked to the faces on the wall every day.

“During the time I was in the hospital, the nurses came in every now and then where they pulled the curtain around me. This was the most horrible feeling ever. Is there anyone else who has lost the battle, or were they just following their daily routine to come check up on me?”

As soon as Patrick is back on his feet, he wants to hand out a gift package to every staff member who assisted him and his family at the time.

“The doctors and nurses were fantastic. We do not know how we are ever going to thank them.

“It was unbelievable for everyone when I was pushed out of a wheelchair at the hospital,” the couple said.

He lost 27kg, but is getting stronger every day.

“I know that the Lord has a plan for me, and therefore I do not hesitate to help where I can. I have the opportunity to do that, and I am grateful for that,” he said.

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