Paul Deppe's airlift to COVID-19 ICU proves life-saving

On 9 July 2021, Paul Deppe was transferred to Life Empangeni Private Hospital from the Life Fourways Hospital in Gauteng via an emergency mercy flight. Gauteng's COVID-19 ICUs were full.

Paul firmly believes that the highly efficient scramble by Discovery Health and the Life Hospitals to get him transferred - with swift cost approvals by Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) - saved his life. The process included locating the spare ICU bed and securing the plane and attendant medical crew.

"That flight marked the turning point in my recovery. Had I not got to an ICU when I most needed it, I don't know if I'd be here today," says Paul. "Looking back, I wouldn't have wanted to be treated at any other hospitals or be a member of any medical scheme other than DHMS."

All in all, looking back on the experience, Paul says his "absolute worst" was the moment when, before his transfer his doctor told him that his COVID-19 related blood markers were "sky high and going the wrong way," and that he urgently needed oxygen and an ICU bed. Also very scary was, after his transfer, hearing that three of four fellow COVID-19 patients had died.

"I hadn't even said goodbye"

Paul thinks back to the point of his hospital transfer. "I felt I was not going to see my family again," says Paul. "I hadn't even said goodbye. I thought I was going to die. It's traumatic when you have to share bank and other account numbers, passwords and codes and tell family which accounts to pay, in case the worst outcome transpires."

Paul's ordeal with COVID-19 - which has changed his life and filled him with gratitude - began on 27 June when he tested positive for the disease two days after a scratchy throat and treatment by his GP for bronchitis.

Most of his family also contracted COVID-19, including his wife, Annette, 31-year-old daughter Candace and her five-month-old son, Bouen. Annette was worst affected, needing oxygen at home, and little Bouen was admitted to hospital for two days. All of them recovered.

"I was starting to plan my return to work after 10 days in isolation"

"Initially my symptoms were not that bad, but I did lose my sense of smell and taste. I was starting to plan my return to work after 10 days in isolation when I woke up on day nine with a tight chest," he recalls, with a chuckle at the sudden twist that followed.

His son, Jared, who had been away on a hunting trip with Paul's son-in-law when Paul contracted COVID-19, had isolated from the rest of the family.

When Paul woke up with his tight chest, he immediately asked Jared to take him to casualty at Life Fourways Hospital. He was transferred shortly thereafter.

Jared and his brother-in-law's hunting trip proved a blessing as they remained COVID-free and were able to look after the stricken family.

"The doctors were concerned about blood clots forming during my journey back to Gauteng"

At Paul's worst in the Life Empangeni Hospital (feeling anxious that he might be put on mechanical ventilation), he was having High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO) pumped into his face mask at 60 litres per minute. After five days in COVID-19 ICU, having responded well to HFNO and having passed the stage of being contagious, he was transferred to a standard ICU where he spent another six days before being transferred into a recovery ward. He was discharged on 26 July after a further six days in hospital.

"My wife and son, who proved a tower of strength throughout my ordeal, drove down to fetch me. They had to get a permit to cross the provincial border (due to COVID-19 lockdown regulations). We booked into a B&B in Ballito for three days as the doctors were concerned about blood clots forming during my journey back to Gauteng, but it all worked out and we drove back home on 29 July. I was back at work by 4 August," he enthuses.

"I was not ready to leave this planet."

Says Paul, "I'm not a very religious person but I prayed every night that I would get through this. And I had amazing messages and video chats with family and friends from all over the world, some of whom I'd not seen in years, and this gave me confidence and mental strength. I was not ready to leave this planet. I'd just got my first grandchild too - it all helped."

Paul confesses to 'survivor guilt,' but says his cousin, based in the United Arab Emirates, gave him a dose of tough love, telling him he'd never know why he was spared, and to accept what life or God had delivered to him.

"I'm also now a very strong vaccine supporter"

"I haven't changed by world views that much, but I do thank God for allowing me the opportunity to carry on living. It's made me a lot more philosophical about life. I'm also now a very strong vaccine supporter," Paul adds.

As fate would have it, Paul's age group could only vaccinate from 1 July 1 2021. He'd registered, but he was only due for his jab on 8 July - too late as it turned out.

When he did go to Discovery's mass vaccination site at Gallagher Estate, a full 30 days after his hospital discharge, he found it "absolutely professional, and so jacked up. I'm definitely going back there for my second jab in October, 42 days after my first (Pfizer) jab."

Paul's 'take away' lessons?

"DHMS really care for their Scheme members and customers. When you really need it, they're there for you. I've been with them for a very long time on the Classic Comprehensive Plan and never had a single worry. My COVID-19 experience cost well over R500 000 - and it was all covered.

"I lost 10 kg in hospital, but I'm going to a biokineticist and slowly rebuilding cardio fitness and muscle strength."

He ends with an amusing anecdote about two newly acquired pet hates - bedpans and being washed in bed, by nurses.

Near the end of his ICU stay, Paul had to be helped to the toilet and wheel an oxygen cylinder with him. After getting him safely seated, the nurse closed the door - but he promptly ran out of both loo paper and oxygen.

"I had to scream for one of the sisters. I didn't think I'd make it, but I got both in time," he laughs.