28 January 2022
Jacqualine Hepi and Clive Oakes are thankful to Dr Bernard Conlon and Dr Britta Noske for looking after them - after they contracted Covid-19 from a friend who visited them in December.
“Dr Conlon and Dr Noske were really great. They rang us every day and sometimes twice a day to check how we were doing and to check our pulse readings and symptoms,” says Jacqualine.
The couple sought a Covid test soon after learning their visitor tested positive for the virus.
Clive and his son’s initial test results were positive while partner Jacqualine’s first result came back negative. However, three days later her second test result came back positive.
The whānau devised a plan and isolated at home for about 20 days during that time, with Clive and his son isolated in their sleep out and Jacqualine in their home.
Jacqualine says her whānau’s symptoms, because of their overall health, were minor.
“It was similar to having the flu. Clive had a bit of a headache and he and I lost the ability to taste while Clive’s son had a little cough. You know how when you have the flu, you get body aches – we didn’t have that. At my request to our doctors, we took vitamins during that time which helped us and our energy levels. We were lucky not to have respiratory problems.”
Ministry of Health reports that those who are infected with Covid later have a level of immunity to the virus. (Visit https://bit.ly/3fZ7Kjn for more information)
“There’s a lot of fear out there that’s being caused by people spreading kōrero because they’re scared of the unknown. Media hype is also adding to that uncertainty. I wasn’t worried about us getting better from Covid, my main concern was for our community and close whānau who would be scared about contracting it,” says Jacqualine.
“We know whānau are scared but you don’t have to be scared of us, whānau. We’ve recovered from the virus,” says Clive.
Jacqualine says rumours can be detrimental to a person’s wairua and the same can be said for the hardship being experienced by their Murupara GPs.
“They have done an amazing job not just helping us to recover from Covid but right throughout their community service here. Kia kaha Dr Conlon and Dr Noske. I hope everything works out for you and us because it would be devastating for our community to lose you. Thank you for the amazing care you provide and I hope you continue to provide manaaki to our community,” says Jacqualine.
With a tear in his eye looking at his elders on the couple’s sitting room wall, Clive says “I know they like the whole community would be heartbroken. We believe in our doctors and we need to speak up for them.”
The Murupara couple also thank their neighbours next door who helped them as well as the Te Ika Whenua Hauora while they were in isolation.
To learn more about Covid preparedness including isolating at home, care in the community and what to expect visit the Ministry of Health HERE.
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