Excited 91-year-old Neville Adams and his 90-year-old wife Iris kept announcing that “We are going home” as they made their way out of the hospital.
The elderly couple was discharged from the Netcare N1 City Hospital in Cape Town after they both survived Covid-19.
The pair in love were admitted on August 16 and 21 respectively.
The senior lovers did not know initially that only a room separated them from each other.
Physician Dr Zia Els said “Mr Adams was astonished and excited to learn that his wife was also admitted with him, doing well in her recovery and being cared for just next door”.
“Given their age and that both have underlying medical conditions – Iris has diabetes and hypertension and Neville has kidney problems – we were deeply concerned about them when they were admitted.”
“I am delighted to say, however, that they both did remarkably well and are continuing to recover strongly at home after being discharged,” said Els.
Els also disclosed that Iris was admitted after she showed similar symptoms like that of her husband.
They were dependent on oxygen during the first few days of their admission.
“Mr Adams also had to spend the first few days in the high-care unit of the hospital. The team treated them conservatively, using less-invasive ventilation techniques, to which they both responded well.”
Adams said he has rest of mind knowing that they both survived the virus.
“We had quite an experience but are both feeling much better now. The doctors and staff at the hospital treated us exceptionally well and we are deeply grateful to all of them.”
The hospital’s acting general manager, Morné Kielblock, said the couple were given a rousing send-off with a “guard of honour” by the staff.
“Under the watchful eye of our outstanding medical and nursing teams, both these senior citizens survived the virus.”
“It was a great privilege for us to treat such a brave couple and a morale booster for all of the doctors and staff to be able to send them home safely,” he said.
