'I never thought I'd pull through': Walsall mum who survived coronavirus still feeling effects seven months on
“It is really frightening. I never thought I’d actually pull through… the only thing that kept me going was thinking about my daughter.”
A Walsall mother who has been battling the after-effects of Covid-19 for seven months after being in hospital for nine days is urging people to take extra care against the virus.
Sukie Aujla’s life was turned upside down when she tested positive for coronavirus in March and was left fighting for her life.
But despite overcoming it, the 50-year-old has continued to suffer from the symptoms of the virus. Last month, she thought it had returned but tests showed up negative and doctors told her she had a different virus.
As a result of lockdown, a family holiday in April was cancelled while her 27-year-old daughter Manisha’s wedding – due to take place in August – has been postponed until next year.
The mother-of-one has spent most of the past few months in self-isolation and has even been restricted to her room for the most part as she, husband Nash and Manisha live with elderly parents.
She was also unable to go to work. But that return was cut short when she picked up another virus.
Mrs Aujla said: “I just want people to know that this virus is serious. There are some not taking it seriously at all but I’ve been ill since March and I’m still not better.
“I’ve had it quite tough. It is worrying, if we do go out I’m concerned about getting it again.
“But being at home all day was making me feel depressed because 24/7 I was stuck inside on my own.
“When I had it, I had to completely isolate. My mum and dad live with us and it was hard because I was worried they might catch the virus from me.”
'I thought I was not going to pull through'
Her ordeal started in March when she said, on her way home from work, she started to feel a “bit weird”.
During the night, she started to get shivers and a dry cough which kept her awake and by morning she had developed a high temperature.
Initially thinking she had a cold, her condition worsened and she began feeling weaker and was struggling for breath before she collapsed and had a seizure, prompting her daughter to call 999. Mrs Aujla was admitted to Walsall Manor Hospital on March 22.
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During her stay in hospital, she needed oxygen to help her breathe and found she was being sick five or six times a day.
She said: “At one point I thought I was not going to pull through as I felt like my body was giving up on me. I felt so weak and the side effects with the antibiotics wasn’t helping.
“I was told that I would be put into an ICU if I got any worse, which kept me thinking that I had to fight this.”
Her condition did improve but, even after she returned home, the dry cough remained and she had no sense or smell or taste. Eating left her feeling sick and she encountered sporadic breathing trouble.
Mrs Aujla said: “I’m not 100 per cent better since I came out of hospital.
“My message to people is to be extra careful. It’s not just for yourself but it’s your own family. You need to be careful for them.
“I know how real this is. It is really frightening. I never thought I’d actually pull through.
“There was a 50-50 chance of getting better or getting even worse and the only thing that kept me going was thinking about my daughter and that I had to be there for her wedding.
“I’ve only got the one child and that’s what was in the back of my mind.”
She added: “I am not sharing this for sympathy, but instead as a warning of the dangers of this virus.
“I never thought this would happen to me, and I would not want anyone to go through what I am going through.”
