Anabel Sharma battles long Covid and PTSD after loss

Anabel Sharma has faced many health challenges since contracting Covid-19 in October 2020. She watched her mother, Maria Rico, die in a hospital bed next to her, and now, five years later, she continues to deal with the aftermath of that traumatic experience. Mrs. Sharma, 53, has been hospitalized multiple times since her initial illness. Most recently, she spent time in the hospital for double pneumonia. In total, she has spent months in intensive care and has been re-admitted for various health issues each year since 2020. She now lives with long Covid and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which complicates her recovery. During her hospital stay, she was unable to attend her mother's funeral, which deeply affected her. She recalls how her mother took off her oxygen mask to speak to her daughters one last time. Mrs. Sharma has said that grieving her mother's death took time and that certain memories remain cloudy due to her PTSD. To help her sleep, she uses a CPAP machine but finds it difficult at times because it reminds her of her hospital stay. She also has other health concerns, including lung damage, liver problems, and a heart valve issue, which complicate her condition further. Her children have expressed anxiety about her health, leading to emotional challenges for the whole family. Despite these struggles, Mrs. Sharma has a positive outlook. She refuses to feel sorry for herself, thankful that she is still alive. She has learned to adapt to her new health routine and is critical of the disjointed care she currently receives from the healthcare system. She remains hopeful, expressing a desire to regain her former self, but acknowledges the difficulties that long Covid brings to her life and her family's life.