Saved purely by the Grace of God

Testimony of Jenifer Saravanan, a nurse from London saved from COVID-19

(Transcribed from her online testimony on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eqiWaT6TLE)

Introduction

My name is Jenifer Saravanan. Firstly, I would like to quote Ephesians 2:8

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

I am truly a testimony of being saved by the grace of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am sharing this testimony because people have been praying for me and I think the entire world was praying for me. I am a nurse and I work for Queen Elizabeth Hospital in London, UK. I was on maternity leave and I joined after my baby’s first birthday celebration, which was in January. Then in February I reported to work. Everything was fine till then.

Contracting the Virus

Unfortunately, in March, I contracted COVID-19 while treating patients. When I contracted it, I was shocked, but I felt that this was going to fine though there was lot of panic around. I knew I would overcome it. My health started deteriorating, I was not feeling OK. I was quarantined in my house. I could not nurse my baby for that week. Nothing was helping me. My temperature was not going down. I suddenly began feeling that something is not right.

I told my husband to call the ambulance as I did not feel alright. The ambulance crew came and they checked the oxygen levels in my body and it was very low. I was admitted in hospital, I was on full percentage oxygen, but it was not helping me. Unfortunately, I had to be shifted to ICU but with oxygen support. I thought it will be alright. At one point, I felt better with oxygen. But after that, in a few days again, my health started deteriorating.

On Ventilator

The doctor told me, Jennifer, we are going to put you to sleep so that we can put you on ventilator. Those of you who are in the medical profession, and otherwise also, you know what it is like to be on ventilator. I refused it three times, though I don’t remember, then one day my husband called and said, do not refuse the ventilator, it may help you. And all I thought was this is the last time I am going to see my husband or hear my husband’s voice. And I said OK. They put me to sleep and after that for quite a while I knew nothing. I was on ventilator for quite a while and that was not working.

On the ECMO Machine

They shifted me to Royal Papworth hospital in Cambridge, which is extremely good for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Since ventilator support was not helping me, they decided to put me on ECMO. The ECMO machine is a life support machine given to a patient to give them a chance for survival.

The U-turn – purely God’s Grace

I was there for quite a long time and finally one day, I opened my eyes. The nurses around me told me, don’t worry you are in Royal Papworth hospital. I felt I was in a dream. I looked around and then I closed my eyes again. I opened my eyes again, properly conscious, I knew I was in the hospital, and that was on my birthday, April 26th.

I didn’t know what was going on, I didn’t know what had happened, but they just told me you are a fighter, you fought back, you are a survivor, but to be honest nothing was going inside my head. All I was thinking was my family, my baby, my mother, who had come to visit me, my husband. I was in pain but nothing was bothering me, I just wanted to know if my family was alright.

One day, the hospital staff put me on FaceTime to see my husband and my child. I was broken, I was shattered, yet I was overjoyed to see them happy. I did not see my mum. My husband said do not worry, everything is fine. People all over the world are praying for you that’s why you are alive. That kept me going.

Coming out of the ECMO Machine – Unbearable Pain

One day the doctors said, Jeni you are doing better, can we take you out of the ECMO machine. Coming out of the ECMO machine was a pain. I could not do anything. They would say roll right, roll left, I could not roll also. People used to help me. At that time I felt, why am I alive? At that time the pain started, sedation was low, and one day I couldn’t take it. I said please give me pain killers I cannot bear the pain. I realised I was connected to so many tubes.

I had a hole at the bottom of my neck, lines at different places, I couldn’t sit, I couldn’t raise my arm, I couldn’t write, I couldn’t speak, and I couldn’t even ask a glass of water. I went through a lot of pain but one thing that kept me going is the thought that I was going back to my family. My cousin sister and my husband would call and cheer me up.

Then they shifted me back to Manchester Royal Hospital as I have my aunt and cousin sisters there. However once I was shifted I couldn’t meet my family due to COVID restrictions. Many nurses took the risk and gave me their phones for FaceTime. God works in mysterious ways. Everything I did, God was there in each and every step. My friends and family were encouraging me. I was quite motivated and eager to see family.

Rehabilitation

I was shifted to Trafford General hospital since my leg had no sensation, maybe due to ECMO. I was there for one month just for rehabilitation. I couldn’t walk first but with the help of doctors and physios and God’s grace I started walking with frame, with crutches, and now I can walk minimum distance without crutches. I acknowledge that without the Lord I would not even be able to sit up. It was only His grace that helped me.

The loss of my mother

Just before I was moved to Trafford General Hospital, I got the chance to meet my husband and my cousin sister. I was very happy to see them but they came with a bad news that my mum is no more. After three days of me being shifted to hospital, my mother tested positive and was moved to a hospital. But she did not want to be there and came home. She couldn’t cope well. When my husband called the ambulance, she collapsed there and that was due to COVID pneumonia.

That was the biggest blow. I didn’t know whether to be happy that I was fine and could see my 15-month old or to cry that me as a child had lost my mother. Be it a 15-month old or a 30-year old, a mother’s loss is irreplaceable. She came happily to the UK to see her grandchild and be with her on her birthday. It was their first international trip and dad had to return but mom stayed back. All I have is good memories.

The day I was put on ECMO, she passed away and the day I opened my eyes, she was buried. My mum must have battled with God. Take me and give back my child because her baby needs her mother. We cannot question God. I will be very honest. At the back of my mind I was thinking why me, why my mother. I am grateful that I am alive but if she had also survived, I would have been more happy.

Thanks to all who prayed for me

I couldn’t take it at first, I just want to encourage everyone that because of your faith or your prayers that I am alive. We have the hope that we will see her again. We all miss her. Its time to say thanks to all especially the Almighty who has given me a second chance to be with my baby, my father, my husband, and my sister, though our family is shattered by the loss of my mother we will still praise Him for the miracle He has done in my life.

This is something that cannot be imagined. My chances of survival were extremely low. My lungs stopped functioning. Doctors didn’t have any hope. They said let us give it a try. There were so many blood clots in my lungs they had to remove all that by doing bronchoscopy. My kidneys stopped functioning, so they put me on dialysis and what not… All the doctors call me a living miracle.

I thank everyone who fasted and prayed for me. I sincerely thank every single soul who prayed for me. Your faith has been answered. Keep believing in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Lord Almighty. I can proudly and boldly say that our God is a living God and He works in ways we do not know. Keep praising Him.

The Lord Jesus Christ is a God of miracles. He died on the cross of Calvary to pay the penalty for your sins. He loves you very much, He gave His life for you. Confess your sins and ask Him to come into your heart. Accept Him as Lord and Savior and make Him the Lord of your life. He will guide you every step of the way and hold your hand and carry you through life’s storms. He is the best friend you can ever have.