Hymavathi and her husband tested positive for coronavirus infection, and complicating matters, she also developed ARDS. More than 99 per cent of her body was not responsive and her condition was so critical that many hospitals diagnosed her chances of survival as bleak and turned her away.

“The patients had symptoms of COVID-19 on August 25, and their condition worsened in five days. Hymavathi’s white blood cell count dropped to 1,500 and CT scan showed severe lung infection. She became breathless, requiring oxygen support, and her chest CT after admission showed lung involvement of more than 95 per cent, portending a worst prognosis during the first week of September," said Dr Balaji Ravilla Baskaran, General Surgery consultant at the Noble Hospital where she was treated.

Her condition rapidly deteriorated from mask oxygen to venturi mask oxygenation to high flow oxygen and finally non-invasive mask ventilation – just stopping short of requiring ventilator support. The family was counselled about almost certain death and high supports required which might be futile in her case.

Her husband made a rapid recovery even though he was more obese and relatively less fit than her. In contrast, however, her condition worsened despite being administered antivirals, immune boosters, nutritional support and chest physiotherapy. By the ninth day of admission, her lung had 100 per cent infection, said doctors. With her chances of survival growing bleaker, Hymavathi was on verge of giving up her exhaustive breathing schedule.

"However, she persisted with her efforts at breathing without needing a ventilator. She was treated further with antivirals and with extensive diet and oxygen support, she can now walk about 50 metres three times a day without oxygen. She does her breathing exercises thrice a day and follows a healthy diet of uncooked food like salads, fruits, nuts and dry fruits,” said Dr Manodhini, senior COVID Care Registrar at the hospital.

After regular physiotherapy and medications for about a month, the patient has now recovered successfully and has tested negative for COVID-19.