I Faced Death Before My Eyes, But I Kept Praying: A Doctor Who Overcame Coronavirus

Vahagn Khurshudyan, a doctor at the Mikayelian University Hospital, who contracted the coronavirus while fulfilling his professional duties, has overcome the illness. In a post on his Facebook page, he wrote:

NEW LIFE
"I would like to start by expressing my gratitude. I am first of all grateful to God. I thank my colleagues who shared in my suffering, both in spirit and heart. I am grateful to the medical staff who fight for people's lives, from the head nurse to the chief physician. I am thankful to the doctors who saved my life. May they have strength, vigor, and patience.

I appreciate those who believe and maintain caution. Through my example, I want to bring some sense to the 'uncomprehending masses' of our people. Wake up! Appreciate the work of doctors, think first of YOURSELF and your LOVED ONES; no one is insured and doesn’t know when and how the illness will knock on their door. And how the disease will progress.

I hope you will gather your wits. I personally participated in this battle—a battle in the intensive care unit. Yes, a battle; I cannot describe the situation in hospitals any other way. A war where a person’s entire life flashes before their eyes in an instant. A war where doctors try their best to save lives. They rejoice at every tiny positive change. Their eyes sparkle and fill with joy and tears of happiness; they live and die with their patients, sparing no effort, distancing from family, and not embracing loved ones for months.

Many patients lying next to me were tearing at themselves, groaning in agony, some were unable to speak or hear. Being a surgeon myself, I contracted this cruel virus that threatened my life. My condition was extremely serious, and my life was hanging by a thread.

I thank all the staff at my 'Mikayelian Surgical Institute' and the entire medical crew at the 'Holy Mother of God' Medical Center’s infectious department for giving me a new life. I urge you all to appreciate their work and observe the simplest safety rules.

While you complain about wearing a mask and gloves, saying you sweat, feel hot, or can't breathe, doctors, nurses, and the entire staff at the hospital are wrapped in their protective gear, 'cooked,' if you will, so much so that if you were to wring out their clothes, you’d fill an entire bucket with their tormenting sweat. They don’t have time to wipe their noses—literally.

For a moment, think about how hard it is for patients and healthcare workers to be away from loved ones, days and months without seeing them, unable to talk, embrace, or just sit at the table and converse. If we consciously approach the situation and maintain caution, rest assured that everything will be okay.

Death was before my eyes, but I kept praying for my family and my Armenian people. Please, instead of complaining, it would be better for you to wear a normal mask than to suffer with medical oxygen masks. Wake up! Health to everyone!"