Farmer, 91, beats virus and goes back to work

A 91-year-old with underlying health problems has made a full recovery from novel coronavirus pneumonia and is back working on his farm in Hongan county, Hubei province.

On Feb 10, Xia Xidian was diagnosed with the disease and admitted to Hongan People's Hospital.

However, after eight days his condition worsened and he was sent to the county's traditional Chinese medicine hospital in a serious condition where he spent four days. At the TCM hospital he was put on a ventilator and given medication to treat COVID-19 that had been recommended by the National Health Commission.

The fact that he had been living with high blood pressure for more than 30 years, as well as heart disease and an inflamed prostrate, made the treatment harder.

However, to his family's surprise, Xia's condition quickly improved and by Feb 20 he had tested negative for the virus on two separate occasions.

"The doctors reassured me and my siblings that they would try their best to treat my father," his son Xia Junyu said. "Though we were worried, we could do nothing but fully trust the doctors."

Xia Junyu said the hospital assigned nurses to care for his father 24 hours a day. "They not only treated his physical condition, but comforted him to make him feel better and eat more," Xia Junyu said.

The TCM hospital also set up a special medical team to treat Xia Xidian for both COVID-19 and his other illnesses.

After his recovery, Xia Xidian was supposed to stay in hospital for further observation but he insisted on leaving. He told hospital staff members he would not eat unless he was allowed to go home. "He refused further care and wanted to leave his hospital bed," Xia Junyu said.

"He told me via a video chat that he didn't fear death, but he did fear not being able to die at home."

Xia Junyu said after confirming with doctors that his father's condition was stable, the family took him home. "He was really happy and now he has restarted his farmwork. He can even walk in the field carrying a hoe on his shoulder."

He said his father's illnesses are common among the elderly, and Xia Xidian is in relatively good health thanks to a healthy lifestyle.

"He gets up at 6 am and goes to bed at 6:30 pm," Xia Junyu said. "He is an industrious man who does farmwork every day. He also has an upright and honest character and does not talk much."

Xia Xidian has been reunited with his three sons and two daughters, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and is enjoying life. Xia Junyu thanked the government for saving his father's life and meeting the medical costs. He promised to pay society back by making donations to help others affected by the outbreak.