I usually work in a children’s hospital. It was the middle of March when my medical director called and said, I need you to go to another hospital and see adult Covid patients. It was like, one minute to think about it, and I go, “OK.”
My wife said, “Oh God, it’s very dangerous, you will be on the front line with Covid.” But I said, “Don’t worry, I am a doctor, and I studied for this.” For me, it’s like, “OK, I am the right man for this work, so I have to go.”
My biggest worry was avoiding contact with my two daughters, 6 and 8 years old.
The first day was a shock. Seeing the numbers on the TV is not the same as when you see the faces of the patients. My first patient, I think he was 74, and he died that same morning. And it’s like, wow, what is this virus?
The heart problems of children are very different from the heart problems of adults. Before I saw babies, and in the Covid hospital I see patients who are usually 75 to 85 years old, so it’s an extreme change.
Us pediatricians, we like to keep near to the patient. The children usually give me a high-five or hugs. Wearing three layers of clothes, my face covered by two masks and goggles, it is very difficult. But I try to take the elderly patients’ hands when they are very sick.
Only one month ago, I had another life, you know? But we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now. And I think that no patients will die tomorrow.
