Rebecca Sang Yum shares her experience after testing positive for Covid

* TW COVID/Tubes/Hospital Images.

Young Samoan woman Rebecca Sang Yum is based in Sydney.  She tested positive for Covid and shares her frightening experience after she was admitted to hospital.

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Some of you may or may not know but I tested positive for COVID and was diagnosed with severe COVID pneumonitis. I was admitted to Liverpool Hospital and was taken care of by the doctors and nurses in ICU. The inflammation of my lungs as a result of COVID made it almost impossible for me to breathe. Every day and night I had nasal prongs in-connected to oxygen so that I could still operate. I had a urinary catheter inserted in me, wore adult diapers and got changed and dressed by the nurses.

I couldn’t eat and my body was weak. I had fevers, a productive cough, sore throat, chills, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Most times I felt like I was suffocating and that when I close my eyes I wouldn’t wake up. I was very afraid but determined that I didn’t want to go into a coma and let a tube breathe for me. So I proned every night, followed health advice.

I hardly ever get sick, am very able bodied and love getting busy with activities. I never thought I would ever go through a pain like this - the worst I’d ever experienced.

I cried to my mum, partner and family. I thought about all the things in this life that I took my time worrying about and realised that none of that mattered. In a situation like that, you hold and take NOTHING with you. All you have are memories, thoughts of people you love, the way you’ve lived your life, what you’ve done for others, normal things you do everyday that you forget are a blessing.

I missed walking, showering, breathing on my own and seeing the sun. Everything else is a distraction.  I prayed to God very hard.

I was grateful for the chance I was given to continue living the path created for me. I know my work in this world is not done. I felt God’s presence over me during my loneliest, darkest and scariest moments. I felt like I was being cradled, a big hand was over me and making me feel calm.
It was a long and hard journey.  I met God through many people and their efforts to take care of me. I am home now, rebuilding my energy, away from tubes and on my final pieces of medication. I feel my breathing getting better and my appetite slowly coming back.

If there’s anything I’ve learned it’s that the power of prayer compares to nothing. I wasn’t allowed any visitors but I felt the spirit of God through all the prayer warriors in my life. My mum, grandparents, family from all over, friends, church prayer groups and strangers! I am and will always be grateful. From the bottom of my heart thank you!

May God bless each and every one of you. My prayer for you is that you see the beauty of this life and the blessings we take for granted everyday. You are here for a reason and your life is so very valuable. Stay safe and healthy everyone- so much love always!