Thread by @p1j

"Plasma is Sunil Gavaskar"
-sharing my personal experience on Plasma treatment in Covid19

Nov-20, My mother-in-law was admitted in ICU in a Delhi Hospital. Doctors were asking us daily to arrange Blood Plasma from ex-Covid patients for a possibility of recovery 1/n @Harneetsin

She was on ventilator and We had treating Doctors telling us Daily to arrange Blood Plasma as the only hope for a recovery as things were not improving, For them they have tried everything except Plasma, so we need to get it anyhow for a possible recovery 2/n @SufiyanaSoul

Since my father was on Ventilator too in Jaipur, my brother-in-law was running around entire Delhi to arrange for plasma as only hope. Plasma center was 2.5hrs drive from Hospital. Thru his office network My Brother-in-Law arranged for many donors, but none worked. 3/n @vicramb

For Six days he drove 5-6 hours daily just for Plasma donors arrangement & nothing worked. On 6th day fortunately thru @sandhyafernez & @itsmesabita we could get a couple of Definite Donors arranged from @Projectstepone -We were quite happy with the breakthrough 4/n @varungrover

On 7th Day, the Plasma Donors donated the required Plasma, and finally we had arranged it with help of many excellent field workers & ofc Twitter. Plasma was finally given to my Mother-In-Law in. and We were really seeing some hope of a recovery 5/n @silverlightgal

My doc in #Jaipur had already suggested this may not work... while Plasma was given to my mother-in-law, I asked the doctor in Delhi.. "Is This Effort Going To Work?"

In came an honest answer, we were not ready for: "Sorry, We Dont Know, We dont know if it works" 6/n @Roflindian

The doctor was honest in telling us "They are not sure if its going to work, as this is not scientifically proven"

I asked him, then why so much of focus?

He said "The only fact we know is out of successfully treated Covid patients in the hospital, 60% were given plasma" 7/n

He told "A lot of patients who have taken Plasma are benefited.. I can't tell you if the get any real benefit from this process in their recovery"

My response to him was "Oh! Plasma is Sunil Gavaskar"

He asked why?

I told him the story of 1983 World Cup Cricket

8/n @sidvee

Kapil Dev was made captain of Indian Cricket Team for 1983 World Cup of a young squad, with Sunil Gavaskar being the biggest face in the team. As expected Gavaskar opened the innings for India & made just 19, 4, 0, 9, 25 & 2 - 59 in in Six matches he played before Semi-Finals 9/n

India reached Semis by winning 6 Matches, but before SF In Team Meeting, there was a Big question mark on Gavasakar in lineup for his poor performance.
Someone came up with brilliant analysis
- All Six Matches we played with Gavaskar in XI,We Won & Lost both when dropped 10/n

So Gavaskar was picked in the team for the Semi Finals, despite poor performance, and we Won.. so he was a default choice for the Finals.... and he was picked made 2 runs and We Won 11/n

So I told the Doctor.. See "Plasma is Sunil Gavaskar" - We don't know if it(he) has contributed to the victory.. if there is any contribution at all, no scientific evidence as such. But since he is there, w expect Victory.. Gavasakar or Plasma same case.. 12/n @vikramsathaye

Me & Doctor both had a good laugh at this as both were terribly stressed. Some bit of humor in these testing times always works as a medicine for all. My mother-in-law could not be saved.

Do not want to discourage anyone going for Plasma, but its just a hope not FULL-PROOF 13/n

Just wanted to share my personal experience on Plasma as treatment for Covid19. We didn't feel bad of our efforts for Plasma arrangement going in vain for nothing, probably we couldn't have done anything else in the ICU.
14/n

One last thing,

#Plasma does work in certain other conditions in managing the body stability and conditions, Treat it as an important support, but not a definite proven treatment for Covid19 - & I am not a Doctor, Do consult a Doctor before deciding anything imp.

15/n [over]

Small correction in scores.. Gavaskar made 32 runs in 4 matches pre semis, 59 in the entire Worldcup and India won all six he played in World cup ..