An overseas-based Guyanese nurse aid is among those who have died in the United States after being infected with the novel coronavirus disease.
Helen Monah, 58, formerly of Dowding Street, Kitty, died at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center.
According to the brother of the deceased, Charles Monah, she contracted the virus on or about March 15th. He explained that she started to experience seasonal flu symptoms, which manifested as mild aggressive symptoms such as fever, headache and body aches.
Monah said Helen took a few sick days off from work and rested while treating herself with over-the- counter medications, including Tylenol, Theraflu, and ginger tea.
It was noted that by the fourth day Helen was almost back to her normal self and this prompted her decision to return to work on the following weekend.
“It was a terrible decision, since Helen soon started experiencing body aches once more,” Charles told Stabroek News. “I tried encouraging her to call out from work, but nevertheless she decided to go, since she had planned on coming home to Guyana at the end of May to see her family.”
He disclosed that on March 23, his sister began experiencing severe flu symptoms on her way home from work.
As he recalled, “it almost made her pass out, she barely made it home”.
Monah stated that Helen did her best to fight off the symptoms once again with over-the-counter medication and traditional home remedies.
“There were days when she felt better,” he said, “but she developed a persistent cough that would go and return.”
He said a global pandemic was then declared and the access to healthcare facilities became problematic as hospitals and clinics discouraged individuals from making unnecessary visits without an appointment or approval from an attending physician.
Charles stated that on March 25 Helen did a telephone interview with a doctor and was advised to visit a clinic and request a COVID-19 test.
However, due to the limited amount of test kits available, hospitals and clinics began a screen and assessment policy in determining who met the criteria, before the test could be administered.
Helen was denied the opportunity to be tested, since she did not exhibit signs of difficulty breathing or tightness of the chest.
According to Charles, with the help of her family, Helen was able to see better days, but by the second week in April her coughing intensified with little breaks in between.
He said, “The coughing kept her sitting up in a chair many nights, weakening her effort to recover.”
On April 11, while visiting Helen, Charles said, he noticed that she began experiencing very acute pains in her stomach and legs that almost caused her to pass out.
He said he immediately called for an ambulance. Once the medics arrived, the checks done indicated that her blood pressure and oxygen levels were too low to administer treatment. Helen was subsequently admitted to a hospital.
Charles disclosed that Helen was later diagnosed with a haematoma in her stomach, which he said was causing a blockage in her left leg.
He said the doctors attempted to treat the condition with drugs in the first few hours but opted for surgery when no improvement was seen.
The surgery was done on April 13.
Helen was informed that she had contracted the COVID-19 virus while showing signs of also having pneumonia.
For the most part after surgery, Helen remained stable, although sedated.
Charles explained that the doctors said her organs began getting weaker towards the end of the second week after surgery, and Helen passed on April 26.
While residing in Guyana, Helen first began working for Omai Gold Mines and Guyana Goldfields Inc in the security division, before pursuing her own catering business.
Helen migrated to the United States of America in April of 2016 to assist her eldest daughter after the birth of her own daughter. Two years after, Helen moved to New York City, where she enrolled in the Home Health Aid and Nurses Aid classes in order to gain employment.
She was described as “a truly remarkable individual who was loved by many.
