Fathia Kareem

Nigeria

I thought I was invincible

Yes, I tested positive for COVID-19. I fell victim to this virus: a nasty, lingering virus that gave me the worst symptoms I’ve experienced to this day, that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. My story is to warn you that this is not the common cold or a regular flu. This virus is serious.

I thought I was invincible, immune to this coronavirus, because I am healthy and young. But I was wrong.

In early March, reports of novel transmission of the coronavirus were just starting to appear in Nigeria. I had heard about the nursing home in Lagos, the synagogue in Lagos Island, Lagos State. It was a precarious situation, but community transmission of the virus was not quite so widespread.

“Sure, I’ll wash my hands,” “I will social distance after that party,” I thought. Looking back, there were too many opportunities for me to have caught this virus. I did not take my health seriously. I figured I could avoid the virus, but in the off-chance I were to get it, it would be like a mild flu or a bad cold. I flew home from a two-month global medicine elective in Africa, ventured on long flights home and around lots of people at Abuja and Murital international airport. I went to a beach party during my week stay in Beach Eko and saw lots of friends before heading back to Ghana to finish up my last semester of medical school. I was not careful. I did not take the necessary precautions. I did not think it could happen to me.

The fact of the matter is – you never know.