This Winning Story is shared by Mr. Karan Jotwani, Partner at Monalisa Printers, Mumbai.

My printing business is majorly for medicine related corporates and hence I couldn’t really be at home during the pandemic last year. On the 10th September 2020, I had a vague bodyache in the middle of the night, I felt feverish and knew this was not a regular kind of a fever. Dr. Parag Mehta, a dear friend and a leading Pulmonologist advised me to get the RTPCR test done. Although I took all the possible precautions, yet I somehow managed to contract the virus. I completely isolated myself from my family in one room. But unfortunately, my wife too contracted the virus from me. The kids fortunately tested negative. Me and my wife were bound to one room.

The symptoms of COVID-19 hit me hard. I experienced intense fatigue, high fever and had frequent headaches and a persistent cough. My wife (diabetic) was in a worse shape than me. My society family (That’s how I prefer to call them rather than neighbours or co-residents) took charge of our food. From breakfast to lunch to tea, soups, dinner.. they took turns to provide us everything. They created a separate Whatsapp group where they co-ordinated everything. Without their help, we wouldn’t have had recovered the way we did. The kids displayed a matured side to themselves. My daughter who was 9 years old then took care of her elder brother and the house outside.

A special shout out to Dr. Parag Mehta who helped us get back to our feet and our children without any of us requiring hospitalization.

I request everyone to please wear masks properly and take all precautions seriously.