Nigerian COVID-19 survivor, Ayodeji Osowobi, shares her inspiring recovery story
A Nigerian COVID-19 survivor, Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, has shared the story of her battle with the deadly virus, how she walked through the fear of isolation center and came out alive.
Osowobi, an advocate for gender equality, is the Executive Director of Stand to End Rape (STER) and 2019 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year. She is one of the three Nigerians profiled by international magazine Time in the 2019 ‘100 Next’ List. She has also been honored as an Obama Foundation emerging leader.
In a thread of tweets via her Twitter handle on Monday, Osowobi said she tested positive for coronavirus while in self-isolation. It was just a few days after she returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom where she had attended a post-Commonwealth event.
“Days after, I tested positive for COVID-19. Before returning, I had planned several interviews, I was scheduled to start a fantastic consultancy job and was also expecting to sign a contract worth millions. I lost them all!!!” She wrote.
Osowobi said she decided to share her survival story to inspire others, “life finds ways of throwing LEMON at me. I’ve struggled with coming forward, but I want to inspire hope,” she wrote.
Here is her story:
The journey to isolation center:
“I had to self-isolate and also inform people I came in close contact with to get tested. My friend and I kept calling NCDC to get tested? What if we didn’t persist?
“No info on my test result. At 12am, an ambulance was at my house. I woke from sleep & was crying. I got to isolation center, but no one was there to receive me. I waited in the ambulance for TWO Hours. The nurses eventually came out and treated me like a plague. I sat in the ambulance feeling rejected.
“No questions about how I felt. So many questions about my travel history. Same information I had provided to NCDC and Lagos State Government during profiling.
Lack of data sharing! After two hours, I was taken to my space.
I felt lonely, bored and disconnected from the outside world.”
Life at the Isolation Center:
“Few days after, another patient came in. We bonded. Days later, patients trooped in.
“Are people observing self-isolation & social distancing?” I was so scared for Nigeria. The next days were tough. No appetite. The nausea, vomit & stooling was unbearable. I’m a blood type A and #COVID19 dealt with me.
“I’ll share daily symptoms and recovery process in a video tomorrow.✌🏽
“I thought I was going to die and contemplated a succession plan for StandtoEndRape. I was on drugs daily. Sometimes, I‘d take eight tablets in the morning, 13 tablets in the afternoon, 10 at night. My system threw everything out!
“Water, food, soap and all disgusted me. But I’d look at the wall and force myself to stay hydrated — drank ORS. I FOUGHT TO LIVE! I FOUGHT!!”
The Recovery:
“Days after, the Doctors shared a good news that I tested negative. I shared this news with family and friends! My blood sample was taken and I also tried to donate my plasmapheresis to help others. I hoped to be discharged.”
The long wait for discharge:
“I waited to be discharged, but for two days, nothing happened. I was unsure of what was going on. Why haven’t I been discharged? Should I be in the same ward? Could I get reinfected? I was worried but remained calm.
“On the 3rd day, Doctors said, “well, we worked with the info we had of you testing negative, but one result came back positive.” “…You’ll stay a few more days. You know we take nose, mouth & sputum samples.”
“Am I still positive 😳?” I asked.
“No, you’re negative,” the Doctor replied.
The Doctor apologised for the delay. I was anxious to go home but remained calm. I wanted to be free from this pain. I continued the medication and asked to be in a separate ward. Sadly, I remained in the same ward as all others rooms were full.
“My ward had people who were positive. What if I get re-infected? For them, I was a beacon of hope and they needed me gone to register the progress. My family and friends were becoming anxious.
People in my ward who earlier celebrated the news of my result suddenly lost hope. “Why are you still here? You shouldn’t be here with us. You should be separated from us now…” People in my ward muttered.
I tried to calm them.
Today, I am PROUD to inform you that I MURDERED COVID-19 and have tested NEGATIVE TWICE! I HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED!
I bless God for His mercies.
The nurses at IDH Yaba were fab. They deserve accolades for their hardwork.
Thank you Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for coming to see me.
Thanks to @ProfAkinAbayomi, the health team at IDH + Lagos State. The food was good!
This experience reminded me of the value of friendship. Some people I refer to as friends speculated about this, but never reached out to check. Thank you still. Back to the grind!
Some stigmatised me based on a PUNCH article with subtle messages like “why did she come back to Nigeria?” Nigeria is my home.
Coronavirus is NOT a death sentence. People can survive and I HAVE!
“Sending strength to everyone who is fighting to beat COVID-19. To every young person out there, please give your lungs a chance to beat this. Can I encourage you to stop smoking & live a healthy life at this time? A healthy lungs is KEY!”
Osowobi, however, advised that people should be encouraged to get tested and not stigmatised.
“Practise social distancing and stop the spread. @NCDCgov and State Governments need to improve their testing capacity. Test mild/asymptomatic cases too,” She advised.
