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| Yokohama Bay |
Dear Jennifer Jacobs,
First of all we hope you are well. We always remember how fortunate we are to have all of the good people like you who work so hard for others, who work even after business hours.
It started when we were quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise, Petrus had high fever which was not alleviated by Tylenol and for 2 days I kept calling the emergency line with the response "we take a note or we will call you later". In this frustrated situation in the evening I emailed Canadian Embassy, Consular Section in Tokyo. We got a quick reply " it's been alerted". Some medical doctors from Japanese Authority by midnight came to check Petrus and I showed the note that his body temperature a few times was high even until 39.5 degrees Celsius. I really begged the doctors to transfer Petrus to a hospital. They could not make a decision, but they had to consult first. Then they came back with a wheelchair. Petrus was the 66th passenger among other passengers who disembarked that night. By ambulance, early in the morning on February 11, 2020 Petrus was taken to a hospital in Japan. We did not know what hospital he was transferred to, he could only say it was about 25 minutes drive from the dock. Family members were trying to find out using GPS which hospital the ambulance sent Petrus.
Fortunately Petrus was taken to a very good hospital which is Saiseikai Yokohamashi Tobu Hospital. At the Emergency room they took a throat swab, blood work, chest X-ray besides vital signs checked. Petrus was admitted and later we knew that he was diagnosed with pneumonia and the test of Covid-19 was positive. The problems encountered was how to communicate with the doctors to know Petrus' condition.
Our daughter Anindita asked Jennifer if we, family members could get an update on Petrus' condition from the hospital doctor. Family was worried because sometimes Petrus had difficulties to hear and understand when people talked to him, especially with different language. Jennifer agreed to facilitate us using whatsapp group chat. Jennifer is the one who let us join her meeting with the doctor. It was not easy to talk in another language, and also the doctor did not want to share information to family members through the phone. But Jennifer was able to take care of the lack of communication. We heard that Petrus’ respiratory worsened. Doctors told him that they need to put him into artificial respiratory (AR). It was a very difficult situation, Petrus declined to do it, remembering that 20 years ago his dad died after the AR. But Anindita and all of our children: Dodi n Wita, tried to convince her dad with the progress of medical technology and knowledge the result would be different. Petrus changed his mind and told doctors he was ready to get the AR. Between life and death, Petrus had a request to get the anointing oil for the sick from a Catholic priest before he was put into the machine. Family was looking for a priest in Tokyo who could give the sacrament and Jennifer was informed. My son emailed a priest who resided in Japan. But, then we learned that with this very contagious disease, this would not be happening. Hospital would not allow a visitor to come and we did not want to risk the priest being exposed with the virus. Fr. Antonius Firmansyah S.J. kindly called Petrus, so Petrus could do a confession and Father spiritually gave a blessing for Petrus.
The next day, on February 14 in the afternoon at 14:30 Jennifer set the meeting with hospital doctors to release medical information. We knew from the doctor that Petrus with symptoms of fever and headache, had severe respiratory problems, bloodwork results were not good, and on the day before they received the result of the coronavirus test which was positive. Petrus has been transferred to the Intensive Care Unit and a team of doctors has intubated Petrus into the Artificial Respiratory.
On the ship, in the evening a doctor came to my cabin, did a coronavirus swab test for me.
Lots of family members, relatives, and friends from Canada, the United States of America, Indonesia, Netherland, Rome, Australia, Singapore, Japan were asking and concerned for the health condition of Petrus and they offered prayers for Petrus. Anindita created a Whatsapp group “please pray for us” as a medium to communicate, to update Petrus' condition of health, and to ask for prayers for Petrus. Lots of prayers and masses were offered with the intention for the healing of Petrus.
With this worse situation, Jennifer worked so hard to get me to the hospital so I could be with my husband. She contacted the Japanese Ministry of Health so the Quarantine Office could assist me to disembark. Jennifer updated us, the Ministry of Health spoke with the head of hospital, they considered that Petrus' condition was not urgently critical so the ambulance would not leave that night.
The next morning I was texted from ~R Brown that the authorities were working on getting the ambulance to the ship. At 12:20 Dr. Yoshitaka came asking for my medical history and an hour later he called me that the preparation was done to disembark.
An ambulance took me to Saiseikai Hospital on February 15. Thank you to ~ R. Brown who texted me to ensure I was able to make it to the hospital and asked whether I was able to see my husband.
I was checked for the coronavirus besides blood work and an x-ray. Two doctors Dr. Hamanaka and Dr. Toyoda met me at the Emergency Room and explained to me sometimes in English and or using a tablet to translate from Japanese to English that "Petrus was in bad condition. Covid-19 is a new disease and there is no medication in the world for it". I would be allowed to see my husband if my swab test against the virus was negative. I was admitted to Rm.1071 in quarantine status, I was not allowed to go out of my room.
Thank you to Jennifer who did not leave me alone and checked me everyday to see how we both were doing and offered her help.
The next day, Dr. Toyoda and Dr. Kawai came to my room telling Petrus' condition was worse, showed me all the results of blood work and had a plan to change the antiviral given to an anti-HIV medication. They explained these drugs have some side-effects to other organs. I really agreed and supported their plan to change the medication.
Two days later on February 18, Dr. Nakajima told me that the result of my test to covid-19 was negative, hence the doctor/nurse who would come to my room did not need to wear a special outfit. In the evening at 18:00 Dr. Toyoda and Dr. Kawai came telling me that they were happy Petrus' condition had been changed to be improving, the temperature was normal, and showed me the bloodwork results were getting much better. And because I was negatively tested, they said that I could see Petrus the next day.
On February 19, Dr. Toyoda and Dr. Kawai picked me up to see Petrus in ICU and explained that Petrus was conscious and the vital signs were good. Dr. Toyoda showed me the results of blood tests were getting better toward normal and the lung X-ray photo was much better compared to the photo from February 14. It was their plan if everything was stable, AR will be taken off the next day.
On February 20, Dr. Toyoda and Dr. Kawai took me to see Petrus at ICU. The AR has been removed. According to doctors, Petrus’ health condition was stable. With the help of a nurse Petrus could see me standing outside his room and say “hello”.
On February 21, Doctors told me the lung X-ray was clear and planned to transfer Petrus to the general ward after a long week-end, because after week-end there was a big holiday in Japan which was the Emperor's birthday. Petrus could not move his hand or leg, his muscles were very weak. A Physical Therapist examined and diagnosed Petrus with “Disuse Syndrome”, so Petrus needed rehabilitation therapy.
On February 22, at 8:30 Dr. Kawai picked me to ICU because Petrus declined to do bloodwork and to take his medication. According to the doctor, Petrus was in the stage of delirium since last night. I could see him with an oxygen face mask through the glass wall and Dr. Kawai let me communicate by phone with Petrus who was inside his room, assuring him to do what the doctor asked him to do. Petrus nodded. Dr. Kawai took Petrus’ blood and a nurse gave him some tablets and an injection. Then another nurse did a thorax X-ray. In the afternoon Petrus texted me that he was able to finish his meal and it was likely he was relieved from his delirium.
On Sunday, February 23 Dr. Kawai told Petrus what has been happening since Petrus was admitted, the examinations and the treatment. Petrus was cooperative and his communication got better. He was trained to walk in his ICU Room for 30 minutes three times a day.
On Monday, February 24, “Emperor’s birthday” was a national holiday, Petrus was able to lift his body to sit up and trained to walk. Dr. Toyoda at 16:00 came to my room telling me that “Petrus was stable in good condition, oxygen was given low 1 liter per minute. The cough and sore throat were much better. Tomorrow Petrus will be discharged to the general ward. When Petrus was free of Covid-19, he would be discharged from hospital”. IVFD was taken off.
On Tuesday, February 25 Dr. Toyoda came telling me “because hospital beds at the general ward were full so Petrus remained staying at ICU. X- ray and blood work were done”. Petrus was still connected to lots of wires which made noise if he was moving his body. He could sit and walk several steps on his own using a walker.
At 21:00 a nurse came telling me that there was a discussion between Canadian Embassy and hospital. First that I would be discharged on February 29, but then she said on March 1.
On February 26 Dr. Nakajima came telling the hospitalisation was from February 15 to 29, discharge would be March 1. Before my discharge, I requested whether I could be tested again. Dr. Nakajima said it was not the hospital's decision to do PCR test, but the government’s decision. When I asked for clarification from Jennifer, she said that on March 1, I will be discharged and Princess Cruise has arranged for me to be transferred to a hotel.
On that day Petrus was free from all wires and oxygen and at 15:00 was transferred to the general ward room 771. As told previously, since Petrus at the general ward, I would not be allowed to see him.
At 16:00 Dr. Takayuki Oishi - Biomedical Laboratory Scientist and Ms. Miho Tanaka - Administrative Staff came to my room. Dr. Oishi told me “because I was negative of Covid-19 when tested on February 15, the day I disembarked from Diamond Princess and during the quarantined days at this hospital, there was no symptom, they would not do PCR test again. When I requested a letter of free-covid, he declined to give it. He mentioned that I would be discharged on March 1 between 10-11 a.m. which has been discussed between hospital and Canadian Embassy. After being discharged, I could no longer visit Petrus in his room.
On February 27, Petrus said his blood pressure and blood glucose were normal. Insulin injection was stopped. He could walk in his room and shower since the day before.
At 16:00 Dr. Nakajima and RN Rena Iwamoto came to my room with a translator Japanese-English through a tablet. He said that I was negatively tested, I did not have an infection of Covid and on March 1 I would be discharged. Petrus was infected by Covid, got worse, had severe breathing failure, entered ICU, had Artificial Respiratory. Fortunately with the most efforts of ICU doctors and nurses, AR could be removed in a week. On February 26, Petrus entered the general ward room 771. He was surprised. The treatment of oxygen and all medications were stopped. Blood pressure was stable and the X-ray of the lung was very good. I asked how the result of Petrus PCR when Petrus was extubated from AR on February 20. Dr. Nakajima has not got the result.
Both Dr. Nakajima and RN Rena told me that it is hospital rule not to share patient information through phone and he could not write a letter stating that I have been quarantined since February 15 when I asked for him to write a statement about my quarantine.
Anindita called me after she spoke to Global Affairs that the hospital fee would be paid by Japanese government and a Landing Permit certificate would be sufficient for me.
On February 28, Mr. Marc-Olivier Jean- Canadian Embassy called me saying that the Canadian Authorities would need a discharge certificate stating that I have been quarantined since February 15 to March 1. This document would then be used to get a clearance certificate from the Canadian Authorities to waive the 14 day quarantine in Canada. Marc told me that I was a compassionate patient at this hospital and if the hospital would not give me a certificate stating that I was done my quarantine, then I should be in quarantine again for 14 days in Canada. Marc also gave me advice on the discharge day, I should ask the taxi driver to pick me up from the Emergency Ward Entrance.
At 19:00 Dr. T. Oishi and Ms.M. Tanaka came together with The quarantine Team Staff - who handed to me an Approval of Disembarkation according to Article 5 (1) of the Quarantine Act of Japan: “This is to confirm that the person above has been onboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess which had arrived at Yokohama Port on February3rd and been kept under observation in an appropriate environment for infection control for the period of 14 days, and has tested negative for the virus. Yokohama Quarantine Office hereby certifies that the person above has been permitted to disembark and enter Japan according to disembark and enter Japan according to Article 5 (1) of the Quarantine Act of Japan as the Director of the Station has confirmed that the person above poses no risk of infection of nCov, as the said person has also presented no symptoms including fever at the end of the period of observation”.
Dr. Oishi explained to me when I asked how long the virus could live outside the human body. According to him, the virus could live 3 hours at linen, 5 days on the solid surface, 12 days on urine or faeces.
Ms. Tanaka told me all hospital fees were paid by Japanese Government and to contact Mrs. Nagai at Canadian Embassy. When a taxi arrived on March 1, at 10:30 at the Emergency Ward Entrance, the taxi driver should report to the person in charge there to contact the Nursing Station, looking for Room 1071. They knew that I was arranged to go to a hotel.
Sunday, March 1, 2020 I was supposed to leave Room 1071 at 10:30 but the taxi has not come yet. Nurse Yukiko Ito came several times asking me about the taxi. The nurse handed me a 3 page nice letter. I called my daughter Anindita, who then contacted Michelle from Princess, asking about the taxi. Marc - Canadian Embassy called me asking how I was doing. I told him I was anxious because the taxi was not there yet. My anxiety was relieved that Canadian Embassy did not leave me alone. At 12:30 a taxi came. Nurse Yukiko accompanied me to walk to the Emergency Entrance until I got into the taxi. The taxi took me to Intercontinental Yokohama Grand Hotel which has been reserved by Michelle from Princess.
Monday, March 2, Marc - Canadian Embassy faxed me a form Traveller Attestation to be filled. We were lucky. not being lonely, because all of our grandchildren, families talked with us by WhatsApp.
March 06, 2020 Petrus discharged from Yokohama hospital, and joined with me at Intercontinental Yokohama GH. We walked slowly together around the shopping centre closed to the hotel.
March 07, we moved to a New Otani Yokohama Inn Premium by a taxi, because we should bring bags. Even though this second hotel just 15 minutes walk-distance from the first hotel.
Our daughter Anindita has worked together with Canadian Government, and luckily we got Air-Canada tickets to Ottawa on 08 March 2020.
We flew on the bussiness class, and arrived in our Ottawa condo at 01:00 AM 09 Mar, 2020
Thank you Lord, we arrived safely at home.
Sincerely,
Farida
