ndia’s second wave has not spared children. This is the story of how I fought the virus with my 5-month old son who also tested positive.

The first wave of the coronavirus was tough on many, especially the elderly and those with comorbidities. In the global village we live in, the virus has mutated further and returned only harsher! This time, our children were not spared. Across hospitals, children below the age of five tested positive with the new strain of COVID-19. Infants and even newborns have reported symptoms of the virus including fever, diarrhea, vomiting, cough and cold.

Since the outbreak, my husband and I have been extremely cautious – avoiding meeting friends and family and going to public places. With the birth of our son in November last year, we were even more cautious about not getting the deadly coronavirus home. As a new mom, all I wanted to do was enjoy the milestones and small joys with my little one. The flash of his first smile, him rolling over or uttering gibberish – I wanted to rejoice every moment. All our efforts to keep the virus away came to naught in April 2021.

One morning, I woke up with a severe ache in my lower back. By evening I had a headache and painful jaws. I was running a mild fever and brushed it off to natural exhaustion from looking after a five month old. I hadn’t ventured out anywhere or met anyone outside, and so we didn’t think it could be COVID-19!

We consulted our doctor immediately, and we were prescribed antibiotics to start taking instead of waiting for test results to come in. My fever dropped and the aches and pains dissipated with medication. Two days later, at 4 AM, I felt a choke in my throat and congestion in my chest. In the wee hours of morning, my son and husband shifted to another room. Then, I tested positive for COVID-19.

Quarantine and medication to treat the virus began immediately. The treatment and the virus rendered me so weak that a trip to the washroom seemed like a Herculean task! I also developed a mild infection in my lungs.

Having read up about the new strain impacting children, I was concerned about my child. My worst nightmare came true two days after I tested positive. My little boy was COVID-positive.

My five-month old had a fever and cough the night before he tested positive. Without wasting any time, we consulted a pediatrician over video call and were prescribed multivitamins and medicines for his symptoms. The next day, he was down with a severe bout of diarrhea, and another medicine was added to contain it. Throughout our recovery, steam inhalation became very crucial, and when our congestion did not clear, we had to switch to a nebulizer.

My husband who tested negative had to be by our side as it was impossible for me to look after my son alone as I was battling the virus myself. He was double masked throughout.

There were others at home who took the same measures to protect themselves. Fortunately, my in-laws took their second dose of the COVID vaccine two weeks before I got infected. Nonetheless, they had to maintain a healthy distance from me and my son as there was a risk of transmitting the virus.

Our recovery coincided with a peak in COVID-19 cases across the country. Bad news came our way almost every single day including from within our close circles. News of death, people haggling to find hospital beds, and things as essential as oxygen and medicines. It was difficult, but I actively decided to distance myself from it all as much as I could.

My determination to see my son recover kept me afloat against adversities. I closely monitored his symptoms as he lost weight and became fussy. I remembered a dear friend’s words that kept my spirits up, “Think of it like the flu to fight it”, she had said.

I read, prayed, and stayed in touch with loved ones as it made me feel strong mentally. I watched feel-good television and continued my fight against the virus that had devastated millions of lives in the country. Gradually, I found myself getting better. My sense of taste returned on the fifteenth day, and I tested negative the day after. My son recovered too.

Despite the odds, my son and I fought against the virus with mind and body.