SOME came away with a stronger zest for life while others carry debilitating injuries that make resuming normal life difficult. Others went on to help other Covid-19 patients.

These are among the stories of those who recovered from Covid-19, the deadly virus which has infected 5,425 and killed 89 in the country. Of the 5,425 cases, more than half, or 3,295 patients, have recovered.

Some of these former Covid-19 victims The Malaysian Insight spoke to had the support of friends and families while others lived with suspicion and fear of those they thought as close to them.

“Mie” from Penang and Siti Nurul Qalbie A. Ghani of Kelantan contracted Covid-19 from the “tabligh cluster” where the virus spread among thousands after a mass gathering at the Sri Petaling mosque.

About 55% of all Covid-19 cases in Malaysia have been traced back to the about 16,000 individuals present at the gathering between February 27 and March 3.

The cluster spawned five generations of infections, said director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Despite contracting the virus from the same cluster, Mie and Nurul shared vastly different experiences.

“Me and four friends drove home to Penang in the same car. When I reached home, I received news that one of the attendees from Brunei was positive. I got worried and went straight to a private clinic,” said the despatch rider who only wanted to be identified as Mie.

“The doctor told me I had a cold. But I wasn’t satisfied, so I went to Penang Hospital for a test. Three days later, they told me I was Covid-19 positive,” said the 31-year old.

He was warded for six days before making a full recovery.

“My main worry was my friends who travelled with me in the car and my family at home. But thankfully, none of them got the virus,” he said.

“In fact, they were not upset at all and supported me throughout my stay at the hospital.”

For the first two days, the doctors gave him flu medicine.

“After that, the doctors told me that I had to rely on my antibodies to fight off the disease. I was always positive throughout my stay at the ward and thank God I recovered.

“The six others in the same ward with me also made full recoveries.”

Fear and rejection

Nurul of Kelantan, however, had the opposite experience.

Nurul, her mother and two siblings contracted Covid-19 from their dad, who was infected by someone else.

The source of the infection is believed to be from a group of southern Thai tabligh members who stopped to pray at the surau her father frequented in their kampung in Kota Baru.

The Thai Muslims were on their way back home after attending the Sri Petaling gathering.

“When my dad was confirmed as a Covid-19 case, news spread quickly through the kampung. The rest of us in the family who were waiting for our results were stressed out,” said the 41-year-old.

“The other villagers shunned us like the plague. It was at this time I found out who among my neighbours and friends were sincere.

“Even after we all recovered, there were still villagers who were afraid of us. But there are some who still come around to the house to look in on us,” said Nurul.

But the biggest blow to the family was the death of the matriarch.

“She died on April 4 from breathing complications and organ failure. She had other pre-existing conditions. But when she died, the doctors told us she had tested negative for the virus.”

Nurul was warded at Kota Baru Hospital for two weeks and quarantined at home for another two weeks.

“I have not fully recovered. Before I got sick, I never had breathing difficulties. But now, if I exert myself too much doing chores, I get shortness of breath.”

She now washes her hands every 30 minutes and maintains a strict hygiene regiment.

From patient to donor

Reza Huzairi Zainuddin sees a silver lining in his Covid-19 ordeal as he became the first survivor to donate his plasma to other patients.

“I became the first Covid-19 plasma donor on April 2 after the doctors ruled that my plasma was healthy and could help Covid-19 patients in critical condition.”

Doctors all over the world are using plasma from Covid-19 survivors to aid those undergoing treatment as their plasma contains large amounts of antibodies that will fight off the disease.

“Not every Covid-19 survivor’s plasma can be used as they must be free of other chronic diseases and not be on any long-term medication. So instead of being sad that I contracted Covid-19, I am now thankful and happy that I can help others.”

Yazid Mohammad is now appreciating things that really matter, such as family, friends and exercising, after his treatment at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

“I am more grateful for what I have now and the people around me. I eat healthily now, I exercise and I pray,” said the 51-year-old from Kuala Lumpur.

Being warded with other Covid-19 patients was a difficult experience because he was worried for his family and was uncertain if he would recover.

“We were all worried about our family members who came into contact with us. We got depressed when we saw some of our friends in the ward get transferred to the ICU (intensive care unit).

“I made a promise to myself from the first day that I would put my life in the hands of God as that was the only way I would get through this.” – April 21, 2020.