When Draupadi Devi was released from Rajmahal’s Covid hospital on Thursday, she was given a rousing farewell for beating the dreaded virus with a quiet confidence befitting her stature.
After all, at 99, she was the oldest person in Jharkhand to have survived a coronavirus infection.
“It was so satisfying to see her return home happily. She blessed all of us. For us, it was one of the biggest achievements of our life to successfully treat the woman who is almost a century old. The risk is always high while treating people of this age,” Sahebganj civil surgeon Dr D. N. Singh told The Telegraph Online on Friday.
Draupdai and her son, Ram Swarup Chaurasia (54), were released from the Covid hospital at Sahebganj district’s Rajmahal sub-division amid spontaneous claps and presentation of bouquets by doctors and district officials.
Singh said that unlike others in today’s day and age, Draupadi did not have any major age-related ailments like hypertension or diabetes, which proved beneficial for her early cure. “She was asymptomatic when she was brought to the hospital after testing positive on June 26,” he said, adding that throughout her stay she was fully cooperated and kept her calm.
On her treatment, the civil surgeon said the focus was on due care, proper food and regular doses of various immunity boosters. “While treating an elderly patient like her, there is nothing much one can do other than provide maximum possible care, a regulated diet and medicines, in addition to basic 24/7 hygiene. We ensured all this at the hospital,” Singh said.
Draupadi’s son, Ram Swarup, who works as a peon in the district civil court, had tested positive for the virus on June 24. On June 25, samples of other seven members of his family were taken. All tested negative except his mother.
Swarup said that he wasn’t aware how he caught the infection as he had not travelled in the recent past. “I got drenched in the rain on June 22 due to which I developed a slight cough and cold. I took an off from work the next day. On June 24, when I resumed work, I was asked to first get tested for Covid-19. The report turned out to be positive.”
Swarup admitted he panicked after learning that his mother had also tested positive. Now, he can’t stop praising the team of doctors at the Covid centre and the district administration for taking full care.
Droupadi, he revealed, was a vegetarian and had led a disciplined life. “She still wakes up at 4am. May be, this is why she is active still today. Five years back, she hurt her back after suffering a fall. That has restricted her movements. Otherwise, she is fine,” said Swarup, who had lost his father when he was four.