1) My family’s experience with COVID in Thailand. On May 30th, a part time helper, employed by us to help with laundry, cleaning and most importantly caring for my 2 1/2 year old son and 10 year old daughter came to our home. When I returned home from work, she appeared ill.
2) I’m a physician. I immediately sent her to hospital for testing. Transferred money for her care. 3 days later (Jun 2) my 2 1/2 year old wakes complaining “My mouth hurts, Daddy.” He is hot to touch. Temp is 38.2C. Take family to hospital for tests. No word about helper yet.
3) Jun 2, my son tests +. Daughter, Nanny (62 year old live-in, aunt of my wife), my wife and I test - . Son is admitted to hospital. Because he is frightened I go in with him. Me, 59 yr old, overweight, Type A blood, Hx of asthma. 
4) Upon admission, X-rays confirm my son has pneumonia. Starts antiviral (Avigan) and Tylenol for fever. On June 5, we are retested. Now, nanny and I test +. Both admitted to hospital. Wife is Thai Physician and fully vac. She and daughter test - again. I’m formally admitted.
5) Daughter (2 neg tests) isolates with extended family. X-rays confirm I have pneumonia. Lab tests show elevated inflammatory markers. Start antivirals. Nanny at different hospital, starts treatment.
6) As son begins to improve, I get worse. We share a room and sleep on mattresses on the floor. We are happy, but concerned. Evidence builds that I’m getting worse, fast. Treatment now includes DEXA (steroid) to mitigate inflammation and evidence of worsening lung damage.
7) I assure my son, we will be OK and Daddy will take care of him. He says, “No, I will take care of Daddy.”
8) At about 10 days in I’m learning that our Nanny, who was doing well, takes a turn for the worse. She’s given O2 as saturation levels begin to drop. My O2 varies between 90-95. Still OK. Son is now off all meds and almost ready to leave. X-rays show pneumonia is now residing.
9) 13 days after admitting to hospital, my son can go home now. My condition worsens. DEXA dosages are increased. Then I develop high blood sugar as a result (fasting sugar goes to 200, after meal 375). Insulin required to prevent coma. My O2 sats are around 91-92.
10) Son is home with extended family. My docs are balancing anti inflammatory DEXA, inflammatory markers (CRP) and blood sugar. Each time we reduce DEXA inflammatory markers go up. It’s a little scary. I learn Nanny is now on ventilator and getting plasma exchange. + response.
11) We eventually stop DEXA and Antivirals. This time inflammatory markers continue to decrease (still high, but lower) X-rays every couple days shows damage to 2 lobes of lungs. 3 days later I’m released from hospital on June 25th. Fatigue, taste & smell down, heavy chest.
12) June 25th I return home (quarantine 14 more days) to be reunited with my son. We’re both very happy.
13) July 2, told by hospital our beloved Nanny, 62 year old woman in good health before this, of our two children (everyday of their lives) passes away. We learn a couple days before, the part-time helper had been in hospital for a month and recovers.
14) We are devastated by the loss of Khun Ming. A gentle Angel who loved our children like her own. (Ming with my son about 2 months prior).
15) Comments: All of this pain was avoidable had we had access to vaccines in April. Only my wife, a frontline doctor, was vaccinated. I know things are different now, more people in Thailand are getting their vaccines…too little, too late for much of my family.
16) The doctors at Samitivej Hospital were awesome. They took care of us and answered all my questions. Dr. Suwaporn Pleumkanitkul and the nurses, thank you, for helping save my son and I.
My day job includes sharing information on two innovative therapies with physician in Thailand and around the world: Autologous NK Cell and MSC Therapy. I intend to use both in my long term health restoration plan.
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