Amidst the ongoing epidemic, success stories are admittedly hard to come by.

And yet, rare as they are, they do exist. Wang Lei is one…

And Mr Susanto, an Indonesian who contracted COVID-19 and had to stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 35 days, is another.

After Being in ICU for 35 Days & Losing 12 kg, Indonesian Who Has COVID-19 in S’pore Finally Recovered

For 35 days, retired Indonesian businessman 72-year-old Susanto Notowibowo fought for survival in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Alexandra Hospital (AH) and later at the National University Hospital (NUH).

At one point in time, his oxygen levels were alarmingly low and the medical team began preparing for the worst.

Thankfully, it was not the case.

On 20 May, Mr Susanto was cleared of the coronavirus. And though he has to remain in hospital for a rehabilitation programme, he’s no being longer confined to a bed with slim chances of survival.

During his stay, the retiree lost around 12kg. He also appeared thinner, to the point that his wife, who herself was discharged from AH on 14 April, failed to recognise him.

“When my wife visited me, she couldn’t recognise my face. I had to wave at her,” said Mr Susanto.

The couple are long-term pass holders who came to Singapore to visit their family members. When they arrived in March, they were placed in a hotel at Newton Road to serve the compulsory 14-day stay-home notice period.

The next day, Mr Susanto’s wife, Madam Muryani Notowibowo Tjoeng, reportedly started feeling unwell and had diarrhoea.

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She was sent to an isolation ward on 30 March, and her swab test results later proved positive for COVID-19.

Mr Susanto was immediately placed on quarantine orders. And on 2 April, he was sent to AH after sustaining a mild fever.

He, too, was confirmed to have the virus.

Professing that he felt well at first, it soon spiralled out of control as his condition deteriorated at a rapid pace.

On 6 April, he was rushed to the ICU and was given high levels of sedation and paralytics, while tubes that were connected to ventilators served to provide oxygen to his lungs.

His kidneys were also impaired.

Mr Susanto was unconscious for around 20 days, due to sedation and ventilator effects.

“He woke up dazed for many days before being able to obey commands,” said Dr Liew Mei Fong, head of the ICU at AH. “But he does not remember his ICU stay, a common side-effect of the sedatives and critical illness.”

The retiree said that he experienced hallucinations during the period, and dreamed that he was being cared for at his relatives’ home in Indonesia.

Recovery

Mr Susanto is now going through daily therapy to restore coordination and body strength. And though he has been through a particularly turbulent period, he remains “very determined” to get back on his feet.

He is reportedly able to stand unaided now, and can walk without assistance. Depending on how well he is recuperating, the retiree can be discharged as early as mid-July.

Mr Susanto has expressed his gratitude at being given a ‘second chance’, and said that he looked forward to reuniting with his family.

“I hope to celebrate together with them,” he said. “I am thankful to have survived this ordeal, and to be given a second chance in life.”

We here at Goody Feed wish you a speedy recovery, Mr Susanto!

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