Our Tryst With The 2nd Wave So Far

Few random thoughts after spending the past few days firefighting for resources (medicines, beds, o2, food..) for the folks around in Delhi/NCR...

1. All your family doctors are supremely overworked. Don't feel angst towards them if they don't answer your calls or respond to your messages

2. DO NOT WAIT TO GET TESTED OR FOR THE REPORT. If you have the symptoms/someone at home, have it, start the treatment ASAP. Majority of the patients we've seen were healthier folks who didn't start the treatment in time because they thought it was 'change of weather', ‘had cold water’, ‘slept directly under the AC vent, etc. OR ‘viral hai’—yes! Covid IS viral. The best assumption is that it is Covid. If not, then great

3. If you treated your infection without medicines after,

a. Stuffing garlic in your mouth, nose, and under your mattress

b. Bathing in kaadha

c. Having gaumutra shots with lemon and salt

d. Listening to Mann ki Baat / radio ads next to your non-existent/empty oxygen cylinder

Please get your antibodies checked before stepping out. Will help others..

4. Mask-up, practice social distancing…high chances our life doesn’t even end-up becoming a statistic on covid19india.org

5. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE vaccinate. While it is not 100% protection from the virus, it surely helps reduce its severity

6. The hard choice is between paying the 'premium' for drugs vs reporting the distributors charging that 'premium' in black market. Letting the family pay for vials to save their dying patient vs letting the law run its course which would at least take a day + vials being confiscated. Sadly, one has to choose the latter..

7. If your teams are on calls through the day verifying leads, creating databases, etc. make sure to check on their mental well-being a few times a day. This can get really overwhelming..

8. I have had my burst of emotions when help didn’t reach in time- either the vials were late, beds were not arranged..so so many horror stories..

9. No point feeling guilty if the outcome wasn’t positive. Give your best and if you do not have regrets at the end of it, that should be the goal for your mental well-being. No What Ifs..

10. While we focus on the living, there are a number of good souls who are ensuring that the departed have their last rites. Many families are infected and cannot go out to perform them, this team is doing it for them...think about their mental state before you lose yours..fight on!

11. Unfortunately, the best way to find a bed is not just by confirming it's available on phone. If the patient can be with you in the car, that'll have better chances since you can request the doctors there to take a call on their own / give primary care for the next stop...

12. Divert your energies in helping people out. Each individual is capable of helping in one way or another. Intent matters. Stop spending time and energy bickering over whether the central govt failed us or the state. BOTH did. Remember this time when you vote next..

13. Love how we have all come together to fight this thing. Mad respect for those Founders and professionals who are dedicating their teams' bandwidth and financial resources towards this cause....

I have a very strong feeling (and HOPE) that we'll turn this around in 2 weeks...We all love an underdog story. This will be the biggest one! BUT we'll not come out net positive..